Feb 1999

I FFBRUARY-MARCII 1999 Rs 50 p ’•< 'xy. .-x 5x * ¦/ ' ¦ .’/I w .V-^RWgNr^^- J. «Bt « ;v ‘. .v Oii^^if rrnr /?*?r -r ¦:' 'X;H i vza SJ ;o.x31 ¦ -A ; i . TtMtiKimEDITOR 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 Jasmine D. Driver ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Khurshid Panthaki ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Swarupa Kamat ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT Varsha Godbole ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Indu Pillai OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav Parsiana is edited, published and printed by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Processing Comart Lithographers. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0971 - 3786. Phone: 2078730, 2072624. Fax: 2074541. For editorial enquiries: 2078183. E-mail: parvo @ giasbmOI. vsni.net.in Parsiana @ yahoo .com 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. Eleven issues of Parsiana are published in a year including a calendar supplement every December. Annual inland subscription for one year (11 issues) Rs 275; for two years (22 issues) ’*•17 Rs 525; for three years (33 issues) Rs 775. IlForeign subscription rates: Seamail for one year L_JR?^OO/ 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 seamail 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; tor UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana. L 2 Readers ’ Forum 30 Events and Personalities 46 Zoroastrians Abroad February-March 1999 Volume 21 Number 8 56 The Federation honors Sanjan by Arnavaz Mama 80 85 Surfing surnames - II Mainyo-i-Khard: The fountain of wisdom 90 Moved by their mission by Burjor Antia 96 Only priests, no pope by Aspi Moddie 101 104 “Did I do wrong? ” by Nariman Wadia “Because I care ” by Daisy Presswalla 106 Dr Hornl Bhabha: The Renaissance man by Jamsheed Kanga 112 NavsariAtashBehramiOnathroneofstoneby Hormazdiar Desai 119 J. J. School: Lighting up a landmark 126 Panday School: The lady ’s lamp of learning by Hilla Guzder 136 “Guard the spiritual boundaries ” by Pashmina Contractor 144 Fire-temple etiquette by Curset Patel 149 In the eye of a storm by Kaikhushro Dastoor 158 Godiwalla at the Globe by Aban Bana 162 Pure Energy: Stimulating happy hormones 167 Of Dossabhai, Duke ’s and Devka 173 Renu Setna ’s rewarding roles by Shernaaz Engineer 176 The Parsis In Western India 1818 to 1920 180 Karl Naoroji ’s kinetic karate 184 Smita Crishna: Waxing eloquent by Parinaz Gandhi 192 Food has no frontiers by Bhicoo Manekshaw 202 Cross connections in Cyberspace by Pilloo Mullan 208 Books 220 Milestones Cover: Facade of the Navsari Anjuman Atash Befiram Photo: Gustasp IraniI READERS’ FORUM INDIA ........ 200 age of vultures at the Doongerwadi and the ways and means of enticing them there by planting more trees, etc. The question arises as to why we are trying to forcibly attract these birds by artificial means when they don ’t want to come there any more. The pertinent question to be answered is that under the cir ­ cumstances do we need dokhmas at 1000 Readers ’ views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. G.P.O. although both are monkeys. Animals too have “imagination, ” “sense of self awareness ” and “conscience. ” Any bi ­ ologist may confirm this aspect. She mentions: “If we were to com ­ pare ourselves to nature we would be limited to stimulus and response. ” No being, whether human or animal, can be above nature. Nature never limits one to mere stimulus and response. “Stimulus ” all to dispose of our dead, now that and “response ” are only corollaries to “choice. ” If she chose to marry a non-Parsi, well, that was her choice. No one can have a grudge against her choice as such and hence she need not be on the defen ­ sive to justify her choice. About human nature it has been said: “Human nature will remain human nature till the nature of human nature is changed by nature! ” She writes about having been taught “principles, ” “integrity, ” “honesty, ” “fairness, ” “sense of justice, ” “potential by electric crematoriums. It has nothing and developing talents ”... etc. But these to do with defiling the sacred fire, etc. are the basics which exist in all decent Except for burial, there is now no other human being.s irrespective of the reli- alternative. BrigN.B. grant gion they follow and are absolutely ir- poona relevant to the topic under discussion, viz. maintaining the buniaad of the “IrrepreSSiblC Rhodfl Mazdayasni Zoroastrian Parsi commu ­ nity. RUSTOM D. PATEL “integrity, ” “honesty, ” these structures have outlived their pur ­ pose? Take Poona for example. We have two dokhmas here of which one had to be shut down as the bodies were just piling up undisposed due to lack of vultures. The situation in the second dokhma is very similar, but we are forced to use it, although the stench there per ­ meates the whole area. It is time we become more realistic on this issue, and substitute our dokhmas alternative. ii' “Milestones ” I refer to the letter by Tina Balsara Vasvani (“Milestones, ” Parsiana, No ­ vember 1998) in response to mine pub ­ lished in the June 1998 issue. I was on a posting in Hong Kong for about a year but unfortunately couldn ’t meet most of the Parsis over there as I was constantly on business tour. Unfortunately, she has not answered the basic issue which was initiated by Zenobia Sidhwa of Udvada to which you gave your editorial note and on which I have commented in my letter. The basic issue for discussion is; “To preserve the buniaad of the Mazdayasni Zoroastrian Parsis by not marrying out ­ side the community. ” It would be worth ­ while to clear some of her misconcep ­ tions. It is a misnomer that animals do not have the “freedom to choose. ” For in ­ stance, cl gorilla will choose only a go ­ rilla as a mate and not a chimpanzee The greening of...” In the October ’98 issue of Parsiana there is an article by Parinaz Gandhi, “The Greening of Doongerwadi, ” wherein reference is made to the short- I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Irrepress ­ ible Rhoda ” (Parsiana, October 1998). Perhaps you could encourage more such articles, or even occasionally a short story by a Parsi. It would be a welcome distraction from the weighty but all too frequently discussed topi'' s of intermarriage, housing and disposal of the dead. Who knows, among your read ­ ers exists a Booker Prize winner! K. R. JAVERI fc‘' 2 Parsiana February-March 1999 i I • j “Behind the screens ” We receive the Parsiana issues ex ­ tremely late, nevertheless we read it with great interest and also encourage our children to do so. Being away from home, it ’s a wonderful link between Parsis around the globe. The issue of July-August 1998 ha'' an article on “Behind the screens ” by K. Karanjia. Amongst all the notable Parsis behind the screens he has forgot ­ ten to mention, or may be he is not aware of, a very eminent and a great Parsi entrepreneur —the lateMrPhiroze Dorabji Mehta, the owner of Chitra Cinema in Dadar. He built an empire of Bombay’s Doongerwadi environscinemas from 1955 to 1982 when he suddenly died of heart attack. His son Dara Mehta still runs his cinemas (WZO) Trust had highlighted the sad in Bulsar. Poona. Bombay and many other towns in Gujarat. Mr Mehta was also a leading distribu ­ tor of Hindi films ability to hear or speak, and his only son Dara is to ­ day a leading dis ­ tributor of 20th Century Fox ’s fa ­ mous Titanic — the Hollywood blockbuster which re ­ sulted in a box office triumph for Regal Cinema. It is very surprising that Mr Sidhwa in flagging his '"Titanic triumph, ” {Parsiana, October 1998) did noteven mention or throw some light on this young Parsi who was the distribu ­ tor. Mr Mehta ’s family lives in Bombay and they receive your magazine as well. They must have felt very cut off by this omission of a great contribution. COWAS AND PERVIN PAHLAN London. UK P. Mehta: empire of cinemas Phiroze “Cross the sound barrier ” but The WZO Trust issued its first pub- The World Zoroastrian Organisation case of three-year-old Jennifer (“Cross the sound barrier, ” Readers ’ Forum. Peirsiana, April 1998) who was born with con ­ genital hearing loss, which had left her without the The inherent defect with which little Jennifer was born wa.s reversible, if a series of complex sur ­ geries could be performed before she attained the age of four. Doctors were con ­ sulted in India, but were unable to perform the sur ­ gery due to unavailability Jennifer Dariiwalla: of highly sophisticated exploring the sound equipment required. The world only option.s available were to have the surgery performed ei ­ ther in USA or Australia where the suc ­ cess rate.s were very high. Jennifer ’s parent.s coming from a fam ­ ily of very modest means just did not have the capacity to raise the amount of hearing and speech. Rs 30,00,000 that was required. The fund.s required were indeed daunting. lie appeal during March 1998. It is to the credit of the members of our community in India and overseas, as we 11 a.s some donors from sister commu ­ nities, and the Lions Club, that they responded with alacrity and very gener ­ ously. The Daruwalla fam ­ ily too persevered in their fund-raising efforts. Nine months after the process of fund-raising began, the tar ­ get was achieved, and the Daruwalla family left for Australia during end No ­ vember 1998. The WZO Trust has re ­ mained in contact with the family whilst they are ‘Down Under. ’ Little Jen ­ nifer underwent numerous tests and was finally oper ­ ated upon on December 30, 1998. We have now received the news that the defect with which Jennifer was born has been reversed, and she is now undergo ­ ing therapy to develop her faculties of By way of this public report, we wish to update all donors who have partici ­ Our Vision has electrified life in Mumbai City since 1915 >» » • Illi % I Tata Electric Companies have helped India ’s financial and commercial capital to accelerate its growth. Over the years, they have set pioneering trends in generation, transmission and distribution with state-of-the-art equipment and systems to provide reliable and eco-friendly power to Mumbai city. At Tata Electric Companies, we abide by our commitment to continue to provide reliable power to brighten the lives of citizens of Mumbai. TATA ELECTRIC COMPANIES IVe Light Up Your Lives 4 Parsiana February-March 1999pated in the noble exercise of giving to Jennifer the precious gifts of sound and speech, and reiterate our gratitude for the support and cooperation extended. DINSHAW K. TAMBOLY Nurture the Uclvada township three trustees standing near my bed. For three days they came every evening and then every alternate evening one trustee kept visiting. I was discharged 15 days af ­ ter the operation. The trustees then took me to the Parsi Dha- ramshala and kept me at their cost for three days. Had it not been for the trust ­ ees, I would have been stranded in Calcutta for due to the war I had only kept Rs 100 with me, the rest I had sent to my bank account. I was 34 years old at that time. Now lam 86, but I still remember the trustees although I have forgotten their names. TEHMURAS P. SETHNA * il ft % •s- ¦A. i' B rightiand iiol.ii) w M \ H \ K MESH WAR HOU I) \\ \ 11 1, \(,i; MUMBAI Tel (91-22) 2872590/1/2/3 Fox (91-22) 2873348 PUNE Telefax 020-220 246 MAHABALESHWAR Tel: 02168-60700 ‘ -------- -------------- Fox: 02168-60707 E-AAAIL: brightlancl@vsnl.com WEBSITE: www.brightlandholiday.comreligion as also increase faith in the Zoroastrian religion among the present generation, every Monday in the Aiwisruthremga/t there is a hambandagi conducted at the Banaji Atash Behram which is well attended by Zoroastrians of all age-groups who converge in the publisher ’s note. It is further stated, hope of seeking mental solace as also blessings of the atash padshah, notes an introduction to the booklet in Gujarati. Photographs of Zarathushtra, Afsoone Maneckji Hataria who did a tremendous Shah Faredun as also Dastur Jamshed Kookadaru are carried on three different pages. The eight-page booklet. The Jashan Ceremony, details the different types of jashans; religious, seasonal and histori ­ cal, the symbolism of the jashan cer ­ emony and the immortal souls whose blessings are invoked through these ritu ­ als. While Giara is involved in the distri ­ bution of this plus other literature on the community, his wife Bapsy ’s research on the social and religious reformers of Iran was reprinted in the Journal of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI). Bapsy Giara ’s essay, “But for them Zoroastrianism would have been ex ­ tinct from Iran, ” won the first prize in the global essay competition in English The ChoiCCSt COllHTlII and Persian sponsored by the KRCOI, the World Zoroastrian Organisation, London and the Zartoshty Brothers Charitable Foundation in 1995. Her trea ­ tise constituting No 61 of the Journal was adjudged the best by an interna ­ tional panel of judges, acccnding to the Busybee: Best of 1996-97. As he further states, “It must be very difficult to write 500 words of humorous prose a day every day of your life, but the humor never flags. It is, in a strange way, intrin ­ sic to his style. His style is terse and laconic, like his conversation, but it has a rhythm in it which creates an impres ­ sion of deadpan comedy. ” This 255-page book which is basi ­ cally a reprint of some of Behram Contractor ’s columns which appeared in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier in 1996-97 is divided into 12 sections with the maximum number of pages devoted to the first chapter, “Bombay. ” Busybee ’s writing. People have bought eopies of the various newspapers in which he has worked simply to read his column ” Round and About, mentions Dom Moraes in his introduction to writes a social history of the city in the second half of the 20th century will find that his most essential source material will be the columns of Busybee. ” The illustrations by Mario de Miranda at the start and end of each section lend a special flavor to the book, quite apart from “Eating Out, ” and “Cocktail Chat ­ ter ” which are Busybee ’s contributions. “The competitors were requested to cover outstanding contributions from social reformers like the late Mr lot for bringing about religious awaken ­ ing among the Zoroastrians of Iran; Arbab Kaikhushru Shahrukh and Mas ­ ter Khudabaksh of Iran who did a lot for religious awakening by starting reli ­ gious classes and writing small books; and Prof Aga Poure Davoud who de ­ voted half a century of his life to the study of Avesta and translation of the holy Gathas and Yashts in Persian. So ­ cial reformers up to the Pahlavi regime According to Moraes, “Anybody who were only to be covered. ” Bapsy Giara chose to focus on the contributions of Hataria, Shahrukh, Ardeshirji E. Re ­ porter, Peshtonji Dossabhai Marker, Poure Davoud and Arbab Jamshid Behman. “Readers have been brought up on AVA MARINE SERVICES For everything in small boats, watersports and water transport 1 1/4, Rustom Bang, Byculla, Bombay 400027 Tel: 3720603/3714209 38 Parsiana February-March 1999Several Parsi characters like Meher Heroyce Moos, Bachi Karkaria, Marazban Patrawala, Mehr Jesia, Soli Godrej, Adi God ­ rej, Nusli Wadia, Darasshah Edibam find a mention in this book as Con ­ tractor links their names with almost real-life episodes to provide amuse ­ ment to the readers. Among the Parsi institu ­ tions he cites more than once is the Parsi Dairy Farm reputed for its kulfi and curd. As confirms Moraes, “Behram is a Parsi and he writes particularly well about that very idiosyn- its conversation, and its food. To grow up a Parsi in (Bombay) is to grow up differently from others...it is some- StOCk of SUmameS thing in the nature of Parsi people. They belong to (Bombay) in a way that no other Indian race belongs to any other Indian city . They are warm, stub- i(< <(^ I I 51' its? itrl born, and very talkative. I would not say Behram Contractor is talkative, indeed he tends to be the other way inclined, except lished by her in 1998. “Here is the list of for sudden staccato bursts of words...Usually he is noticeably silent, but his eyes behind the very powerful lenses of his spectacles are always very alert...Behram looks like a lamb, even when he is watching you with unnerving fixity, but when turned loose on the com ­ puter can be caustic. ” His views from cricket and politics to veg ­ etarianism and education find an expression in this book. The first edition of Words, ”akindofquiztotestthereader ’s Busyhee priced at Rs 150 knowledge of the subject. While thc was published in October 1998 by Oriana Communi ­ cations Pvt Ltd, 16C, Lands SodaWaterBottleOpenerwala is be- End, Dongersey Road, Malabar Hill, Bombay introduction to Having Fun With Parsi Surnames, a 36-page compilation pub- r FROM BOMBAY TO MUMBAI more than 1,000 surnames for a people on this earth who number less than 100,000,” states the author, born in Surat and brought up in Karachi, who claims, “But for death columns and marriage lists of the Jam-e-Jamshed... I would never have learnt of surnames such as Kirolwala, Mengoosi, Notia, Shahuraja, Zaigar, Vanskooiwala... ” Actually only 16 pages of this com ­ pilation bear the list of surnames with an additional two pages offering “Final correct response for all the teasers is not indicated, it is interesting to learn that _ , - o , lieved to be the longest surname; that J Malabar Hill, Bombay ‘wala ’ surnames constitute approxi- tion was already out by No ­ vember 1998. “In my opinion we Parsis in general have the most beautiful first names and the most ridiculous surnames, ” mentions the author Dr Goolcheher D. Coyaji in her maximum number of surnames, 111, start with the letter B... The illustration on almost every page is delightful bring ­ ing life and laughter to the Parsi sur ­ names. Particularly amusing were the illustrations of Mrs Press and Mr Sagar. As clarifies the artist Niloufer R. Wadia, “It is hoped that all this cartooning will FOR PARSI GARA EMBROIDERY Ideal choice of satins & crepes If you have an embroidery to be done or a border to be attached, ask for Garden. For the perfect finish. The range of colours. And lasting value. No wonder your embroiderer recommends Garden. • The Supershop, Near Mahalaxmi Temple,Warden Road. • Gateway Shop, Regal Ginema Building. • Fresh - Up, Dadar TT. • Studioline, Cecil Court, Near Regal Cinema, Colaba. FASHION FABRICS 40 Parsiana February-March 1999 <** cw i I Amhience/GllUbe taken in the right spirit. I have had fun doing this work. It is now for you dear reader to have fun with the peculiar surnames of our community. ” book was originally intended to end here but after discussions among us it was felt that since one is born with one ’s surname, there was not much scope for propagating the book except for the ‘fun ’ part of it. So we decided to include a list of first names as well — both boys and girls. ” A little over two pages for Parsi name.s for girls and just about two pages for the boys ’ names covers the entire section of first names with no explana ­ tions or meanings cited there. In the Commentator ’s Notes, Dr Phiroz N. Dastoor of Canada specifies, “The income from the sale of this book ­ let will first and foremost be used to pay for the cost of printing and publishing and then the balance will be disbursed as per the wishes of the principal author... ” A few grammatical and spelling errors are noticeable on the cover and head ­ lines. Since the price is not quoted, for further enquiries contact Coyaji at 10- Phayre Road, Pune 411040. Among the Life Saving missioil other compilations authored by Coyaji, from his clinic at Chira Bazar, Dr Minoo Wadia went to the fire-temple on the morning of January 1, 1999. But before his regular patients could realize that the which had been closed for the last three months due to the building being under repairs, was open once again, Wadia was knoc ­ ked dead. As he was standing outside Wadia: exem- the clinic, a nine- plary zeal year-old boy who lost his balance while flying a kite from the terrace of Singapori Building landed on Wadia, notes a report in the After­ noon Despatch and Courier of January 12. While Wadia hit his head against an iron beam and succumbed to his injuries within a few hours at the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, the little boy ’s life was saved, his fall being cushioned a medical practitioner by profession, are: Our Zarathushti Religion and A by Wadia. Garland of Poems. Known for his nobility and humility, the 67-year-old doctor “carried out his profession with a mission, miles away from the lure of big money and fame...in Happy to resume his medical profession STERLING AND WILSON ELECTRICALS PVT LTD Leading Electrical Engineers & Contractors City Office Esplanade House, 2nd Floor, Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Telephone: 2074177, 2071882 Fax: 2073741 New Delhi Office Flat No 202-205, G K House, 187/A Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, New Delhi 110019 Telephone: 6233381, 6236320 Fax; 6486282 Bangalore Office 183/C K H B Colony, Sth Block, Koramangala, Bangalore 560095 Registered Office 70, Nagindas Master Road (Meadows Street), Fort, Mumbai 400023 Telephone: 2653287 42 Parsiana February-March 1999Civil Defence Staff College and the Home Guards. Wadia was on the medi ­ cal panel of companies like Air-India and the Life Insurance Corporation of India. his modest one-room clinic, ” mentions the article. District surgeon, Parsi Am ­ bulance Division, of the St John Ambu ­ lance Brigade, the dedicated doctor was also trustee of the Wadia School in Phansa founded by his family. In 1994 he had been conferred the Civil Defence and Home Guards Medal by the Presi ­ dent of India having served as honorary lectuier for nearly two decades at the longer possible though she was amused when about five years ago her youngest son Homi stitched her a dress, his les ­ sons in tailoring having been received from her but well remembered even whilst he pursues his vocation in engi ­ neering. She also made sure that her children had a firm grasp of their math ­ ematical table.s and today, they give her credit for being able to recite their tables backwards. Born and educated in Calcutta, her marriage to Dhunjishah brought her to Bombay in the mid ’30s. Reminiscing fondly of her indulgent husband whom she married when she was but 18 years of age, her thoughtful sister-in-law Goo- etc which in heropinion would appeal to a particular recipient. To this day, games like solitaire and bridge can keep her happily entertained for many evenings. Even at midnight if someone offers to play cards with her she will have a glee in her eye, recalls a family member. Knitting and stitching in which she excelled at one time are no Happily crossing 100 With five children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren Banoo Dhunj ishah Shroff must surely have had her share of joys and woes in life. But with her cheerful disposition and con ­ tented attitude she has crossed the 100- year milestone, becoming the third mem ­ ber from her family to do so. To cel ­ ebrate her 100th birthday on December 15, the family had organized a function lestan Jussawalla who made hermarried at Bombay ’s Saher Agiary when rela ­ tives and friends from near and afar came to wish the matriarch. Her mobility now being restricted as she pushes herself on a walker, most of her movements arc limited from her bungalow to the garden out ­ side. She may miss out on some con ­ versation but refuses to wear hearing life so coinforlable, SlirolTspoke of her early days in Juhu in an interview with Matriarch B. Shroff with her extended family celebrating her century milestone Photo: Spectravision S5. 3 W J I ' S’ ¦ aids. Her eyesight now only permits her to scan the headlines of newspa- . pers. Reading poetry though was once her great passion and many of her family members treasure the little books she has presented them where she has painstakingly copied out verses from poets like Byron, Shelley, i I-' *> the Afternoon Despatch and Courier, December 30, 199S. Following her husband ’s demise when she was in her 60.S she chose to travel around the globe alone and has happy memories of her sojourns abroad. Compiled by Parinaz M. Gandhi 45 Parsiana February-March 1999 With Best Compliments From JMM ENTERPRISES JMME AGENCIES & EXPORTS Private Limited (Buyers Representatives for all types of processed seafoods) C/0 NO 68, "THE ARCADE- WORLD TRADE CENTRE CUFFE PARADE, COLABA BOMBAY 400005 Telephone Nos: 2186650, 2189498 Tlx: 11-84620 JIM IN Fax: 2187972ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD 66 We have to learn from the churches ” After years of office and years out of it, ZSO president Kobad Zarolia speaks with new perspectives Arnavaz S. Mama ¦ 1 IF '¦t-: J X “Zoroastrianism is a religion, a philoso ­ phy. No one has a right on Zoroastrian ­ ism. How you want to practice it is personal, ” says North American mobed Kobad Zarolia who believes that con ­ servatives, liberals and middle-of-the-roaders can practice it the way they think best. The late Kersi Doodha of Ontario had got 50 families to ­ gether to practice it in the footsteps of the legend ­ ary Dastur Jamshed Koo- kadaru and his votary, the late Ervad Nadirsha Ai- bara, notes Zarolia. Apart from the 12 gahambars — six Shahenshahi, six Iranian — the Ontario Zoroastrians celebrate Zaiolia: a time to "think Kookadaru ’s and Aiba- for ourselves” ra ’s haj each year. “If 10 or 50 people attend, what ’s wrong? People have to do their own worship ­ ping, ” says the committee member of the North American Mobed Council (NAMC) and its former president in the there “started out in small, rented apart- course of an interview with Parsiana. Back at the helm of the 28-year-old Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) after a 10-year respite, Zarolia leads a team that includes executive vice presi ­ dent Kamal Driver, vice president Dara Panthakee, treasurer Kersi Bhesania, secretary Niloofer Irani and executive officers Pervez Mistry and Aflatoon Javid. Their agenda includes a rise in the the 35 gurdwaras, 21 Hindu temples and ZSO’s annual family fee of $ 55 which he says “does not even cover the cost of printing and mailing its (bilingual — English and Farsi) newsletter, ” not to speak of voluntary service. “If people don ’t value what they have, they don ’t deserve to have it, ” he notes, adding, “Parsis have a tendency to undervalue themselves ” citing the example of their $ 10 drama tickets in comparison to the thy name is charity, ’ but do not practice $ 25 tickets charged by the Gujarati community because “we believe ours ’ i.s not as good! ” he adds with asperity. Zarolia had slated an extraordinary gen ­ eral meeting ofthe ZSO in late February to increase annual family commitment to the ZSO to ,$ 500 which would be tax exempt as the ZSO has charity status. The Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr “serves less than five percent of the community, ” avers Zaro ­ lia who estimates the to ­ tal number of Zoroastri ­ ans in Ontario in the re ­ gion of five-and-a-half to six thousand including the Iranians. Their pre ­ sent hall can ’t hold more than 200 people “jammed According to Zarolia, Canadian syna- in. ” Because it gets so crowded a lot of Zoroas ­ trians don ’t come. “The and Senegal. The ZSO project to acquire youth are totally turned off. There ’s no place for a nice meal... and not individual community members should pay for religious facilities and contrasts this mentality with that of other communities in North America. “Hin ­ dus have learnt to do it together because Hindus from the West Indies didn ’t have rich patrons, so they learnt to contribute. The Muslims are always giving. Two years ago the Bosnian Muslims came with nothing. But they have already established themselves on a 15,000 square foot area. (They) bought over an old building and converted it into a mosque... The Mormons, Muslims, Jews give four to five percent of their annual income towards their church... A synago ­ gue ’s membership is established. You canf ’t go unless you contribute to it. ” gogues helped establish a center for the newly immigrant Jews from Ethiopia collect a quarter million dollars a year, ” he says. The ZSO Dar-e-Mehr, that used to be lit with almost 200 divas at muktad time, now no longer permits votaries to light divas except for one that ritually burns there because the walls have been so badly blackened, it ’s going to cost $ 3,000 in labor costs to clean them.up. even though the paint is donated, says Zarolia. The first two Fridays each month the Dar-e-Mehr facilities are now reserved for children, in two batches of up to 12 years and those between 13 and 25, the i dea bei n g “first to throw them together. .. To survive as a religious community in North America... We have to learn from the churches, go after the children, make it interesting for them to come there, bring their partners. ” Zarolia attributes the Parsis ’ demographic problem — no marriages, out marriages — to the par ­ ents abdicating their responsibility to a new place began two years ago but has only collected $ 55,000 so far. “If every What legacy are we leaving our children family donates $ 500 a year, we can after 30 long years? ” he asks. While almost all the Zoroastrians ments... financially we are all very well off... Now all of us own large homes, ” Zarolia notes with satisfaction. How ­ ever, he adds, “collectively we are the poorest Indian community in Ontario, ” with a property that he describes as a white elephant in terms of heating costs but whose utility value is restricted to the hall and dadgah. He compares this to 10-15 mosques established by other In ­ dians. “We are the only people not to have our own agiary, ” he laments. Zarolia i.s positive that collectively the community has the necessary re ­ sources, but he adds in his forthright manner, “Wc have a mental block on giving... While the Iranians are givers. Parsis have adopted the phrase ‘Parsi it. ” The Parsi community, according to Zarolia, still believes that rich sethias find suitable mates for their children. 46 Parsiana February-March 1999 Ipersevere and the community does not have the infrastructure to support them. He believes that “all mobeds have a choice ” and is emphatic that “if we re ­ spect each other, the community will “If people don ’t value what they have, they don ’t deserve to have it” Then, if nothing happens, they start look ­ ing when their children are in their late 30s and 40s. At that age when a prospec ­ tive partner refuses, “the ego hurts are so big, ” they refuse to go ahead with the search, says Zarolia. Holding up the example of a Zoroastrian lady in Mississ ­ auga who considered it her duty to get both her children married, Zarolia says, “If (this attitude) becomes the norm, no one will question it. We won ’t have a population problem. ” Zarolia believes Parsis are color con ­ scious. That is why they are willing to “go along with the marriage of their children to white partners... During a 100 years in Africa we did not marry out because we felt superior, ” he reasons. The same applied to China and Hong ­ kong and hitherto to India, he maintains. He was unhappy at the weightage given to interfaith marriages at the 11 th North American Zoroastrian Congress in New York in 1998. As a priest Zarolia does not officiate at intercommunal marriages although with homosexuality, abortion and eu- he attends such functions as an invitee. He will do the navjote of any child of mixed marriage because the child is innocent but admits that when they grow up such children are often lost to the community because the parents don ’t respect us, but not if we bad mouth each other. ” Time was when the outspoken Zarolia (FEZANA) “because it ’s been estab- had jolted the staid Bombay audience (at the Fourth World Zoroastrian Con ­ gress) by publ icly asking the high priests for advice to deal with issues like abor ­ tion and the children of Parsi women divorced by their non-Zoroastrian spou ­ ses. Now, more pragmatically, he notes, “We mobeds in North America have to start thinking for ourselves. ” The NAMC is currently working on guidelines for mobeds on how to deal thanasia. He was happy to have per ­ formed an Iranian wedding ceremony with parts of it translated into English bylaws, he says. He cites the example of with the help of Iranian mobed Faribourz Shahzadi to make the ceremony intelli ­ gible to participants and guests. With Best Compliments From ^VEH2QN TM Guniting, Civil & Painting Contractors Specialists in renovation of multpstoried buildings SINCE 1974 1st Floor, 7, Cassinath Building, Cassinath Street, Tardeo, Mumbai 400034 Phones: 4923560/4938949 Fax: 4925601 Gram: VELDCOATS 48 Parsiana February-March 1999 The need for statistics is widely felt by the North American community, notes Zarolia and as the mobeds are often too busy to report the functions where they officiate, there is a move towards a system of forwarding all navjote and wedding invitations to their respective anjumans to help create sta ­ tistical records of the community. Zarolia shares a feeling of pride with other North American Zoroastrians on the success of the Federation of Zoroas ­ trian Associations of North America lished by all of us ” and notes that “more and more presidents of (member) asso ­ ciations are going to be involved with FEZANA” since the present president of the North American body, Framroze Patel, is “open to the idea. ” Enthusiastic about the Zarathusti Chamber of Com ­ merce (ZCC), a business body that FEZANA has spawned, Zarolia feels that it will result in a resurgence of business confidence even in the Zoroas ­ trian community in India. The ZCC will now be established as an independent organization with its own charter and an article on a web page which received a response from an Ahmedabad Parsi asking for information on certain issues.He was put in touch with the right people as “we have got some good brains in information technology in North Ameri ­ ca. (Though) they are working in isola ­ tion, they can help others. ” Referring to the second North American entrepre ­ neurship meet last November Zarolia was keen that the 55-60 Zoroastrian entrepreneurs attending the meet be pro ­ filed. “There ’s a Zoroastrian genius in mining in Mexico, ” he provides an ex ­ ample, adding that Mexicans prefer to work with Indians than with the white (WZO claims to have) ” and promised community. “I’ll give you one dollar per person... Zarolia was not as happy with Why does the WZO require member- FEZANA’s treatment of the world body ship? No Parsi welfare body has mem ­ issue under its former president Dolly Dastoor. “Dolly did a disservice by al ­ lowing the World Zoroastrian Organi ­ sation (WZO) at our (annual general) meeting... We are not invited to WZO meetings. Why did the WZO come to FEZANA?” he asks. The WZO is “a good welfare body (but) the word ‘world ’ (in its title) does not make it a world body, ” he notes. Claiming that he and others of the same persuasion are col ­ lecting letters to present to the next FEZANA AGM, Zarolia says that if the WZO is “in control (of the world body), we (ZSO) may even leave FEZANA” Compliments of imperial (p.) Its 33/2, Cunningham Road, Bangalore-560 052 • Domestic and International Reservations and Ticketing • Visa Services • Hotel Reservations and Car Rentals • Package Tours • Being part of the Interserve Network, inter-office service and facilities are offered at 15 locations in India and at specific locations abroad as well IATA ACCP£OIT£O AGCNT /A A APPROVED ACTIVE ^interserve PRIVATE LIMITED 50 Parsiana February-March 1999 because raising the WZO to the level of a world body is like “taking over an old house, taking in all their problems. ” He is rooting for a conglomeration of world Psvri’s prOWCSS Zoroastrian federations as proposed in Long time Vancouver resident and fellow 1993. “Nobody knows where the WZO architect of the Zoroastrian Society of funds come from. (There is) not one British Columbia (ZSBC) along with her piece of paper sent to any member, ” alleges Zarolia adding that he has “chal ­ lenged (WZO spokesman at the ailing from a multitude of causes in the FEZANA AGM) Adi Davar to produce latter years, Pavri ’s commitment to social an audited list of the 28,000 members bership, ” he adds. Running his own business as an in ­ surance broker since the past 30 years, Zarolia sits on the collection and allot ­ ment committees of the giant North American charity. United Way, where he began as a volunteer. His wifeNergish works as an administrative officer in a Canadian government hospital. Their son Zubin (24) is becoming a lawyer, daughter Sanober (21) is studying busi ­ ness administration while Persis (18) is still in school. “The worst part about Parsis is that they ’ll respect everyone ’s ideas and opinions except that of other Parsis! ” concludes Zarolia ruefully. late husband Jamshed, Roda Pavri, 77, passed away on January 19,1999. Though work continued to the end, as notes In Search of the Truth (1ST), the ZSBC newsletter. In a new series of articles, “Honoring our Elders, ” meant to cover the biographies of living members of the Vancouver community, Pavri ’s obituary is the maiden offering. “We are making this exception for an exceptional per ­ son, ” notes the 1ST article. The eldest of three daughters of Shirinbai and Framroze Framroze — her sisters Sheroo and Diana Anklesaria continue to live in Poona — Pavri ’s scholastic career included Barnes School in Deolali and Wadia College in Poona whence she acquired a double gradua ­ tion in arts and commerce. Sallying off to Hongkong to work with her uncle in his aerated waters business proved to be a fateful step. There she met Jamshedwreaths and flowers for the deceased. Roda is survived by her son Yezdi. Pavri whose commitment to humanitar ­ ian causes spanned the gamut of social work. There was, however, still place for a very special commitment to Zoro- SCHIlllcSS wholc astrianism which Roda too shared. After their marriage and return to Bombay where their son Yezdi was born, the family moved to Canada in 1958, the third to settle in Vancouver, There ZSBC was born in their own home in 1968. But before that Roda went back to India, a six-year-old Yezdi in tow, to acquire a bachelor of education degree a heart attack in Bangkok in Poona and returned to work as a teacher in various schools in the Greater Vancouver area, a life in harmony with students and colleagues. Roda was founder member of the Indian Mahilla Association, volunteered with the Gujarati Society, the Immigra ­ tion Society, Folk Fest Canada and the Brook House Society. She taught Zara- thushti children their prayers, old songs, etc, hosted many an immigrant Zara- thushti family. To Parsiana she remained a friend and donor up to the end. A philanthropist to the core, the notice of leading to pers ’onal friendships with some Roda ’s funeral requested that well wish ­ ers contribute to the Jamshed K. Pavri Memorial Fund, which provides health and educational benefits, in lieu of “If you live like a good man you are religious. Otherwise no amount of cost of such specialized publications, prayers (can make you so), ” believed businessman and jazz art historian Manek Daver. Kobe born, Bombay educated, long ­ term Tokyo resident (since 1977) Daver succumbed to on December 6, 1998. His two coffee-table, bilingual (English and Japanese) books com ­ memorating the cover art ­ ists of jazz long-playing (LP) record.s — Jaz:. Graphics: David Stone Martin and Jazz. Album Covers: the rare and the Daver: kept art alive for beautiful — had won him future generations recognition among the cognoscenti in the art and jazz worlds. memorable creators in both fields of art. Of him, impressario Norman Granz had stated, “Manek Daver is one of a dwin ­ dling group of people who throughout NVith compliments from B. B. GARDA & SONS 10 B. J. Road, Poona 411001 52 Parsiana February-March 1999 history has kept art alive. ” Daver ’ s com ­ pilations not only put these creations on record for generations unborn but pains ­ takingly identified the concerned art ­ ists, researched their lives and bore the He was driven by the sad thought that a pictorial artist does not keep his own work and therefore has no record of his life ’s work. Daver ’s interest in the field grew initially as a listener and then as a col ­ lector. The record covers used for illustration were the original first issues and, sometimes, far from pris ­ tine. Noting that few people today realize that the issue of jazz LPs in the 1950s and 1960s were not a com ­ mercial proposition, Daver had said, “It was typical of jazz that the jacket often had an ‘inside story. ’” The designers of classic jazz recordings of the time were “walking archives of jazz history. ...The music, the musician, the liner notes and the jacket created a seam ­ less whole, ” Gifted with a medal and certificate ofrecommendation by the Governor of Tokyo for his contribution “towards es ­ tablishing friendly relations between India and Japan for many years, ” Daver had once joked happily about how nice it is to be a Parsi: “Everyone believe.s in you as honest. ” He had for years been the convener of the Indian community .. Yokohoma. Arranging Diwali get-to ­ gethers and foiTTial receptions for visit ­ ing Indian dignitaries, photographs of Daver with prime ministers, foreign ministers and ambassadors abound. Unabashedly delighted with their spon ­ taneous compliment, Daver had re ­ counted to Parsiana how four consecu ­ tive Indian ambassadors to Japan had Chicago chroniclc chosen to grace his daughter Roxana ’s “ wedding reception at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay. The increasingly isolationist aspects of recent Zarathushti community be ­ havior saddened him. Having observed the community since 1965 when Parsi­ ana was founded by his friend DrPestonji Warden, Daver noted with concern that whereas thanksgiving jashans in facto ­ ries, offices and other place.s had been a regular feature in the past, especially in the west, “Now priests are saying 'Bahama hoi to nahi karie (yjQ will not Roxana Mehta, Keikhosrow Mobed, perform if there are non-Zoroastrians SohilaParsinejad, Roshan Patel, Minoo present), but vadil (senior) priests have Press, Dara Rivetna, Dinsoo Rivetna, done it... He also felt that the Parsis JehajiRivetna,FaridaSharyari,Zenobia have professionalized themselves out of ' their traditional entrepreneurial tradi ­ tion. But again, the technological changes ofour times and their impact on lifestyles Press, Dara Rivetna, Dinsoo Rivetna, Tantra, Zubin Tantra, Aban Vazifdar, Pesi Vazifdar and Dinaz Weber. ZAC high priest Ervad (Dr) Kersi Antia continues to remain on the board. The subsequent board meetings elected H. Mehta to preside over the team. Other office bearers include vice Wanting the ZAC to be “a model that everyone else would like to emulate, ” president Mehta noted, “We have such a talented community that we can stretch the meaning of the word ‘impossible ’ to make it very insignificant. ” ZAC was among the North Ameri ­ can associations that shared the cost of the USA between July 6 and August 9, 1998 and the ZAC was happy to present the scholar priest a purse in acknow- 'anum- of about 1,280 persons in Tokyo and would have their own story to tell. The Zoroastrians Irom Persia had changed in time with local conditions. That ability to modify and adjust is part of the president A. Elavia, secretary A. Vazif- community ’sheritage,hehadnoted with dar, treasurer Weber, assistant secretary satisfaction. Zenobia Tantra and assistant treasurer Daver is survived by his wife Dil- Parsinejad. navaz, daughters Roxana and Tannaz. community ’s heritage, he had noted with Twenty-five members of the Zoroas ­ trian Association of Metropolitan Chi ­ cago (ZAC) indicated their willingness to serve on the ZAC board at its last annual general meeting in June ’98 and all of them were unanimously elected to Dastur (Dr) Firoze and Navaz Kotwal ’s trip in mid 1998, estimated at $ 4,000 by the ZAC newsletter. Chicago was the the board by the general body, reported the ZAC newsletter. The enterprising team for 1998-2000 included Anahita Kotwals ’base for much of their time in Antia, Dilshad Antia, DianaDamkevala, FreyaDhunjisha, ArnavazElavia, Dara- yus Elavia, Rashna Ghadialy, Aban Grant, Hosi Mehta, Kayomarsh Mehta, lodgement apart from organizing I I Pntijab )» RESTAURANTS BAR Prakash Mansion, 186, Dr Ambedkar Road, Opp Fire Brigade Stn, Dadar, Mumbai-400014 Telephones: 4114946, 4114713 54 Parsiana February-March 1999her of occasions at the Darbe Mehr to enable the community and the High Priest to interact. Yazd in Canada The fragrance of agarhatti (incense sticks) and sandalwood spread in the ali ­ as a youth group clad in white, with white caps, prayed in front of an afargan fire at Shannon Falls in British Colum ­ bia to celebrate the memory of Peer-i- Sabz, the annual heritage spot for Zoro- astrians in Yazd, Iran. The congregation of about 150 Zara- thushtis joined in singing religiou.s songs after the prayers and eveiyone enjoyed the picnic and the traditional sirog, notes the newsletter. With a substantial Iran ­ ian Zoroastrian population in and around Vancouver, Iranian festivities are being happily celebrated in the area. with Ervad Jehan Conference in Calgary At the Second International Avcsta Con ­ ference (lAC) due to be held in Calgary, Alberta, September 24-26, 1999, schol ­ arly contributions are anticipated from eight countries, notes a flyer on the event. The First lAC in Framingham, Massachusetts had been a resounding success despite the chill and snow of With best compliments from THE WHITE CLOUD PAPER MILLS 412, Gultekdi Road, Poona 411037 Pioneer Manufacturers of Best Quality Base Filter Papers in India Imitated by many, equaled by none Gram: WHITECLOUD Phones: 461078, 462236 Fax: 0091-212-467923 54b Parsiana February-March 1999 mid-November 1997. the Zoroastrian Education and Research The impressive team of professors — Society (ZERS) chaired by Ichaporia Carlo Cereti, Jamsheed Choksy, Dr Ri­ chard Frye, Helmut Humbach, William Malandra, Antonio Panaino, James Russell, Martin Schwartz, Shaul Shaked, by the FEZANA’s Research andPreser- Nicholas Sims-Williams, Werner Sun- dermann, Mario Vitalone and Gernot Windfuhr — will bejoined by Dr Arthur Ambartsumian from Russia, Ervad Pervez Bajan from India, Kcki Bhotand Dr Pallan Ichaporia from the US. The conference is aimed at promot ­ ing knowledge and understanding of all aspect.s of Zoroastrianism from the Gathas. the Younger Avesta, Pahlavi, Parsi/Zoroastrian literature, rituals and traditions that have evolved over three millennia. The scholars arc expected to share their research and knowledge and panel discussion Bagli, Dr Dolly Dastoor, DrKeikhosrow Harvesf, Rohinton Rivetna, Cyrus Mehta, Jamshed Verza, Pilsum Master only. For the early birds (those who and others — to include topics of gen- register before June 23, 1999) the re- eral community interest dealing with spective rates are US $ 110, 90, 45 and health and healing, integration and as ­ similation, interfaith activities, conse ­ crated establishments, spirituality, etc. Thc Second Conference, like its ear ­ lier counterpart has been sponsored by with directors including the Boston ­ based Khorshed Jungalwala and Hou ­ ston ’s SaroshManekshaw, co-sponsored vation Committee and hosted by the Zoroastrian Association of Alberta. The Conference will be held at Ramada Hotel in downtown Calgary and special rates have been arranged for rooms. The sessions will start at 8 a.m. and go on to 4.30 p.m. on September 24 and 25 with a banquet on the second night. The panel session is scheduled between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on September 26. There arc four options available to those who wish to register for the Con ­ ference: the full two-and-a-half days including two lunches, coffee with/with- out banquet; one day with lunch and coffee without banquet; and banquet 35. After that the rates rise to US $ 140, 115,60 and 40. Substantially discounted rates apply for full time students regis ­ tered at recognized educational institu- continued on page 174bPOLITICS AND POLICY Honoring Sanjan The Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India congregated in Sanjan to discuss community issues Arnavaz S. Mama ________________________________ Guzder ’s suggestion of Rs 20,000 from managing committee instituted during the BPP/Federation remained in the air its annual general meeting (AGM) con ­ currently held in Jamshedpur. While discussion on the world body and Bahadurshah Dalal who had been in failed to reveal any substantial develop ­ ment, the Borivli Association ’s need for an agiary and hall has been registered. Awards with the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), the Bharuch Parsi Punchayet and the delegates ofthe changes on the FOZYA “We have spread all over like the Jews, in small pockets, ” noted Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, nostalgic about the “beautiful aramgah ” in his native Amritsar. Thankful that it ’s “Jimmy Guzder ’s problem, not mine, ” he jocu ­ larly suggested that the president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anju ­ mans of India follow the line of former Israeli president Golda Mier and “order Parsis to all stay in one area! ” Then, with sober realism he told the all-India del ­ egates to the executive council meet, “We have to get used to the situation. ” Manekshaw was responding to the reports on individual anjumans submit ­ ted by their representatives at the behest of Guzder “to acquaint the Field Mar ­ shal with what exactly we meet for. ” The agenda had been reversed for the benefit of the chief guest who joined the delegates as they met in Sanjan ’s Jamshed Jehangir Vimadalal Pavillion after lunch at the end of the Sanjan Day celebration on November 21, 1998. The Federation ’s awards for excel ­ lence having been presented earlier that morning, the subject was taken up again as the Federation ’s joint honorary secre ­ tary Keki Gandhi informed the gather ­ ing of two new awards instituted in the fields of law and medicine with a third offer made on the floor of the Federa ­ tion. After a two-minute silence in memory of the late political and community ac ­ tivist Homi Taleyarkhan, Federation members offered fulsome praise of his total involvement in any task he under ­ took. The Federation, on its part, agreed had been forgotten. And, as two-thirds to pursue the interests ofthe Save Udvada of the delegates elected to leave after Project (SUP) committee which had been lunch on the second day, the council ’s so close to Taleyarkhan ’s heart. Silloo Surti of Jamshedpur gave a synopsis of the 12th All-India Zoroas ­ trian Youth Seminar hosted by the Steel City while the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations ’ (FOZYA) presi ­ dent Porus Karanjawalla informed the as Balsara proposed a vote of thanks with special reference to Homi Palsetia charge of the logistics and transport. Two new awards have been instituted under the aegis of the Federation: In World Zoroaslrian Organisation (WZO) memory ofhis gynecologist wife Freny, offering to help. “Though we have not joined the Fed ­ eration, for the first time the (Sanjan Stambh) committee has been given the outstanding performance in gynecology, honor to host a Federation meeting, ” its president Rohinton Daviervala had de ­ clared at the start of the morning ’s pro ­ ceedings, welcoming the Federation delegates. On behalf of them all Guzder registered his appreciation of the work of the committee which also includes would be lawyers doing outstanding Nariman Balsara, Gustad Jassawalaand, especially, Dossabhai Oliaji in whose Duke ’s Hotel the delegates had been quartered and where the meeting con ­ tinued the following morning. . Exceptforthefirstday ’slunchwhich CEO (chief executive officer) Behram was held under the shamiana at the Dasturspokeofhis grandfather ’s “record of 59 years of continuous service to education, ” offering Rs 15,000 to insti ­ tute an award in his memory. Gandhi registered his appreciation of the work of Federation treasurer Rustom Surat ’s litterateur and community stal ­ wart Dr Ratan Marshall has donated an award to be presented for the year ’s or fail i ng that in other medical branches . The Kaiser-E-Hind Award in memory of doughty advocate Ardeshir Katrak is meant to honor the professional who devotes time to legal matters pertaining to the community. Also in the running work in the field of human rights or in assisting the needy in legal matters. While Gandhi apprised the delegates of the two abovementioned donations for instituting awards, the BPP’s new held under the shamiana at the Dasturspokeofhis grandfather ’s “record Stambh grounds, all meals were served at Oliaji ’s and even the awardees, sta ­ tioned in Udvada and in private bunga ­ lows, gathered here for chhaato-pani (aperitifs) followed by a three-course meal prepared under the supervision of Anklesaria, BPP joint secretary Sheroo Manek Todywalla of Udvada and -T ------' ' ? Faredoon Joshi ot Navsari. The only Crawford who had worked assiduously snag was that the provision of a tape recorder on the second day of the meet Master and assistant secretary Adil behind the scene to enable the distribu ­ tion of 12 awards that morning. Anklesaria ’s absence due to illness robbed the event of some of its normal eclat, he noted. deliberation.s turned out to be a one-day affair, in actual terms. The Sanjan Stambh Committee had made a plea for donations in their letter c _____ ____ ______ ¦ anjuman donated Rs 10,000, informed from Guzder that the community appeal its secretary Dr Behram Masani. t_ ------ . Remembering Taleyarkhan The communal retrospection on the achievements of the late Homi of invitation. Accordingly, the Mhow Taleyarkhan began with a suggestion to the Government to issue a stamp in his 56 Parsiana February-MarcelI 58 Parsiana February-March 1999 Clockwise from top left: Guzder, Master, Manekshow, Sethna, Mogrelia, E. Irani, B. Dastur, Tamboly, Gandhi, Oliaji and Palsetia61 Parsiana February-March 1999 sion to support the Save Udvada Project, there was no concerted, organized at- Member ol the National Minorities tempt to go to Udvada and inspect the Commission Marazban Patrawala em- he) cloaked it, ” Sethna recalled their work together on the Asiad Games in 1982 and after the tragic demise of Taleyarkhan ’s son Firdauz. “It is very important to remember the most impor ­ tant aspect of his outlook for our own survival. He almost echoed Dadabhai Naoroji: ‘I am an Indian first, ”’empha- me Karnataka medical college is en- sized Sethna. “(It was) for this reason tirelyduetoTaleyarkhan ’sefforts,noted (that he was) effective in doing so much for the community. To get things done one must look outward... We tend to get bogged down with our own problems, ” Sethna continued, referring to Taleyar ­ khan ’s wide interests, experience, con ­ tacts. “We must emulate some of his memory. Having known faleyarkhan widespread enthusiasm, ” he added, as a junior executive in the Tata Oil Mills in the 1930s, asserting himself, achieving “sometimes to the chagrin ot phasized Taleyarkhan ’s contribution to his superiors, ” Guzder was sorry that the indefatiguable worker disregarded his doctor ’s recommendation of ICU treat ­ ment and rest. A committee to commemorate Taleyarkhan ’s first death anniversary had been constituted, informed Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) president and Federation vice president Lt Gen Adi Sethna, adding that that might be a bet ­ ter time to approach the Government which he was a senior member, when he percent powercut two days a week are regarding the issue of a stamp. would invite representatives of the Ma- the other complaints, he noted. Describing the late politician as a dras Anjuman to the meeting and ask While the Federation debates on en- touching, loving human being (though them to bring the younger generation trepreneurship, old traditional Parsi ho ­ tels in Udvada are falling apart, noted Sethna. “The Atash Behram is only a small part ” of the work that needs to be done in Udvada. Citing the “revolting condition of the roads, ” Sethna re ­ marked, “Every year Zoroastrians come from all over the world. With what im ­ pression do they go back? ” The original nomenclature of “pavitra invitee Bezan Dittia who lives in yatradham ” awarded to Udvada in a Secunderabad. “He would follow up... He wanted to know the representation of the minorities on the local banking board. ” When Baroda ’s Baman Cama rec ­ ommended that the SUP — Taleyar- work done there. Underwater cement blocks, held together by nylon ropes, are said to be in position, as informed Gandhi . Dastur referred to an “informed discussion ” he had had with Udvada residents in Bombay and reported that “their concern goes beyond the marine retention wall. ” Specifically, the road infrastructure is “terrible ” including the road connecting the railhead to the town. Atrocious telecom facilities, police apa- the community even at the age of 80. President of the Allahabad Parsi Zo ­ roastrian Anjuman Capt Homi Dandi- walla recalled Taleyarkhan ’s visit in re ­ sponse to their invitation to view the encroachments on their cemetery grounds. Co-opted member of the south zone Mani Clubwala spoke of Taleyar- khan ’.s visits to Madras for work of the National Minorities Commission, of thy and weak power supply with 100 which he was a senior member, when he would invite representatives of the Ma ­ dras Anjuman to the meeting and ask with them. “Every community came prepared with demands. We asked for a loan for the blind. We got Rs 10 lakhs. ‘See that you help them, ’ his response was like a command! ” reminisced Clubwala. That one seat is reserved for Parsis in the Karnataka medical college is Government notification has now been revised to “yatradham ” and its develop ­ ment will only be undertaken by the state after it has completed its other ventures, noted Gandhi. “This may take 20 years. We have to take it up withiTw;; 'u I 1 authority to use for charitable purposes in memory of the original donors, ” he added. When Gandhi cited the example of Complimenting other communities theTarapurdokhma — administered by on “maintaining their monuments so much better," Gandhi suggested that Zoroastrian commercial organizations property is reportedly untended — and be asked to maintain the Sanjan Stambh. Left to right (top): Cluhwala, Boiiciji, M. Engineer, M. Irani; (Below): Dick, H. Dandiwalla, Dnhash, Paghdiwalla, and Wadia Tamboly provided another instance where solicitor Burjor Antia steered a donation to the WZO “and we were able to prevent the sale to a non-Parsi. ” Patrawala. ” In the meantime the SUP committee could enlarge its ambit to develop a bypass to avert traffic conges ­ tion at the Atash Behram, it was sug ­ gested. BPP trustee and WZO Trust Expressing his dismay at wealthy Zoro- Funds managing trustee Dinshaw Tamboly however noted that the SUP was governed by the Public Trusts Act which placed the building of roads out ­ side its purview. It ’s an “infructious discussion, ” he opined. When Poona Parsi Panchayat (PPP) president Dara Irani said that King ’s Hotel in Udvada had been sold to Mus ­ lims who are planning a madressa on the site, Todywalla informed the gathering that only the building has been sold, not the land and Palsetia of Saronda added that the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP), which is a beneficiary of the Hotel, has lodged a court case. “Till the case is disposed of, it can ’t be sold. ” “If we are ourselves interested in selling to non-Parsis, there is nothing that the punchayets can do, ” stated Dastur. In contrast he cited the example which our forefathers established need of solicitor Soli Billimoria who sold his to be protected, he suggested compro- Warden Road bungalow to a Parsi builder “despite being offered substan ­ tially more by a non-Parsi (developer). ” astrians turning away from Zoroastrian hotels and other institutions, he noted, “Some support should be provided. ” Antia who said he had been serving the community for 37 years, attributed the community ’s ills to the decline in “Parsipanu. ” It had been with us since the arrival of our forebears in the 10th the example of the Readymoney Agiary century up to the beginning of the 20th fireinWalkeshwar which was shifted to century, he noted, placing interfaith theThoothi Agiary in 1965, Antia asked, marriages as the main culprit. “When “But where are such logical, reasonable we came, wc were united (with) only trustees in our community now? ” one purpose; to live and die as Zoroastri- ans, to be perfect in our customs, tradi ­ tions and usages... (Landed) properties once people in high places filled their you arc discussing now, didn ’t exist departments with Parsis but not any- then. ” He urged the gathering to bring more; a “lakhopatty ” said his computer back that religious fervor. “If not, all problems will be discussed for life. ” Agreeing that the agiaries and dokhmas educated son was not earning enough to be married. Yet, following the lead of other communities who are willing to use muscle power, local Zoroastrian to be protected, he suggested compro- manpower helped to clear the land near mise where litigation to establish rights the dokhma in Bardoli. i.s not possible. Also, “where we can ’t get back the property, give it to the local 62 Parsiana February-March 1999 a local trust that is not interested in talking to the Federation though the recalled that a council of trusts had been mooted years ago, Antia noted, “Unfor ­ tunately, Parsis are over independent... There are over 40 agiaries in Bombay . If we convert them to 10, the problem of housing and priests can be solved in a minute... Agiary properties in some cases have been (encroached upon) by others but Parsi trustees won ’t budge. ” Citing Homi Pithawalla of Bardoli traced the changes in the community mindset: Bombay Dyeing chairman Nusli Wadia had written to Guzder explainingWith best wishes JIMMY GHASWALA & ASSOCIATES Architects Interior Designers 708 Patel Mansion, 4th Road, Parsi Colony Dadar, Bombay 400014 Tel: 4129858 Fax: 022 4126950 Progressives V 1 -- Met-, _ - - I t that the management of the Wadia Col ­ leges in Poona lay with the non-commu- nal Modern Education Society. Hence, despite being wholly endowed by the Wadia family he regretted his inability to help Parsi students as he would have liked to do. Wadia had been approached by the Federation at the instance of Poona trustee and Federation vice president Eruch Irani on the basis that the Wadias continue to donate to the Colleges and as donors could exert their right to ensure that a certain number of Parsi children be granted admission. However, Gandhi asserted that the donor ’s right to reserve seats has been negated by the Supreme Court. Antia supported Gandhi and vol ­ unteered to send a copy of the judge ­ ment to Guzder. World body The joint effort of Federation of Zoroas ­ trian Associations of North America (FEZANA) founder president Rohinton Rivetna and WZO chairman Rumy Sethna in revamping a new, more rep ­ resentative constitution for the WZO is still under way, said Gandhi. FEZANA president Framroze Patel is said to be monitoring the situation. “We are await ­ ing a positive reaction from other rc- The lens for uninterupted vision at different ranges distance, mid-distance & reading. Progressives are multifocal lenses without the tell-tale lines of bifocals. Progressives need professional care . For the best results, come to Baliwalla & Homi. One of the finest optometrists & contact-lens practitioners in the country. Baliwalla & Homi Private Limited Flora Fountain: 365, Dr. D.N.Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 287 4916, 2871762 • Dhobi Talao: 614, J.S. Seth Marg, Bombay 400 002. Tel: 201 4906 Parel: J.Merwanji Street, Parel, Bombay 400 012 Tel: 412 6051 64 Parsiana February-March 1999•A t ¦ gions of the world, ” said Gandhi. Gandhi was criticized by Clubwala as much for not circulating a draft he had received from Rumy Sethna in July a.s for adding his personal notes thereon in the annexures circulated to Federation members. “Every anjuman of India should get copies (of the draft constitu ­ tion), ” insisted Clubwala. “My circular goes to 200 people, ” stated Gandhi, ar ­ guing against the uneconomic circula ­ tion of 25 to 26-page drafts to people who had not asked for it. “I have told member anjumans that a copy of the constitution will be forwarded to those who ask for it. ” Accordingly he had despatched copies to the BPP, PPP, Borivli, to Nariman Mogrelia of Madras and Eruch Surti of Jamshedpur. “There is no question of suppression," he as ­ sured them. Individual anjumans In an effort to acquaint Manekshaw with Zoroastrian affairs in different parts of the country, the delegates sketched in their normal activities and problems. Thus Clubwala of Madras spoke of their long, hitherto fruitless search for a sec ­ ond priest, opining that the Dadar Madressa constitution be amended to insert a mandatory internship in the mofussil by young mobeds. Masani re ­ ferred to a solitary Parsi family in Pathankot and suggested that isolated Parsi families in different parts of the country be integrated into the main ­ stream by inviting them to Federation meetings. Dr Bahadur Jokhi spoke of the 500 gcsted they create a project report, work ­ individuals in and around Vyara- 67 Parsiana February-March 1999 iiig out the size and eost estimates, etc. about the economic future of India; Hindustan Lever chairman Keki Dady- seth was chief guest at the valedictory function. Post lunch sessions were poorly attended, said Surti. It had taken four Left to i fthf (top): Jokhi, H. Delrora, H. Dastiir, Dornwola, Chama; (Alongside) Masani and Moharakrd Youths ZEST — the youth fest organized by 'g- Songadh who reconstructed their 100- year-old agiary 10 yeans earlier while Hosang Debara, president of the 125- year-old Agra Parsi Anjuman informed the Field Marshal that their once 3,500 strong Zoroastrian community was down to 23 souls today. The long-disputed Indore dokhma land “will now fetch us approximately shortly due to be released. Aware of the 50 lakhs, ” noted an upbeat Minoo Engi- need to shoulder some of the publishing necr of Indore while Masani informed that they were “fighting a losing battle ” over the 12-acre aramgah land in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. “Can the Field Marshal help us make the kutcha road to the aramgah (in the cantonment area) into a pukka road ?” queried Ronny Dick of Jhansi and was asked to write a short note and forward Jamshedpur in October 1998 was lauded it to Gandhi. by delegates, old and young. “Five of Only two Federation members faced the problems of growth. The PPP is having “a hectic time ” constructing 220 Bats, each with a carpet area of 650 feet so that no marriages are held up for want of houses, noted Dara Irani. Plans for a ground-plus-three-storey dharamshala with 24 rooms is awaiting finance, he added. The I I-year-old Borivli Association with its regular meetings, newsletter and functions is in need ofcommunity infra ­ structure. “The nearest agiary is in Jogeshwari (with) one in Vasai coming up, ” said president Noshir Paghdiwalla. For the 1,000-strong anjuman “muktad Grindlay ’s then CEO Mehli Mehta talked is a big problem, ” requiring them to start their day at 4 a.m. to attend prayers in agiaries in south Bombay. Gandhi sug- ‘ Surprised to hear that there are 1,000 Zoroastrian.s and no agiary in Borivli, ” Guzder noted that there were 250 Zoro ­ astrians in Bharuch with six agairies between them. “If we can assist Borivli to get that fire... ” Setting the record straightBharuch ’sSaroshGinwalla said there are only four fires there. “The rest have died out. ” The DPA’s “main thrust of activi ­ ties, ” according to Sethna, is on educa ­ tion. Bhicoo Manekshaw ’s Parsi Food and Customs is going into a second edition plus translations while Piloo Nanavutty ’s Gathas of Zarathushtra is need to shoulder some of the publishing costs for the latter book, Guzder offered “help in a limited way ” to publish 200 to 300 books which could then be distrib ­ uted free of cost to Zoroastrian educa ­ tional institutions. by delegates, old and youn; the nine mobeds who conducted the jashan were youth delegates, ” informed Surti. The 120 participants had been distributed into five teams named after eminent Iranian kings. They discussed the community ’ s stand vis-a-vis the chil ­ dren of mixed marriages, the Parsis ’ social consciousness, listened to talks, participated in football and cricket matches, trekking and water sports, sing ­ ing and dancing. Tata historian Russi Lala “made Jamsetjee Tata and JRD come alive; ” The Statesman's manag ­ ing director Cusrow Irani spoke of his feelings for the community; ANZWith best compliments from DINSHAW & DINSHAW ENGINEERS & Successful environmental protection is never an after-thought: it is always the result of intelligent planning .99 CONTRACTORS SOLI ARCEIVALA NERGISH ARCEIVALA 390/286, Bootee Street Poona 411001 months of sustained effort to present ZEST, informed Surti, gratified that it had received “the ultimate accolade: Jamshedpur ’s youth seminar will be the benchmark for future seminars. ” The next one is to be hosted by Madras. For youth delegate Hormuzd Dastur of Ahmedabad, “Jamshedpur ’s has been the most eventful experience. ” “The youths didn ’t realize what the Tatas had done until they saw (Jamshedpur), ” noted Bombay ’s Zelda Mistry. Gandhi was disappointed that despite TISCO man ­ aging director Jamshed Irani ’s prof ­ fered cooperation to youths willing to settle in Jamshedpur, not a single appli ­ cation was forthcoming. Karanjawalla and Sarosh Palkhiwala continue as president and vice presi ­ dent, respectively, of FOZYA. Yasmin Charna joins the team as secretary and Porus Debara as treasurer. Nauzer Kasad, Nauzer Batlivala and Jamshed Panthaki are committee members. The new team, elected at the FOZYA AGM in Jamshed ­ pur, was introduced by Karanjawalla. Perzid Daruwala of the Parsi Youth League of Ahmedabad spoke of his association ’s activities which included volleyball at night, the felicitation of educational and sports achievers and a With Best Compliments Of HOSHANG J. BUCHIA & CO ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS 4/24, Tata Mills Co-op Housing Society Ltd Elphinstone Road, Bombay 400012 Tel; 4112539 68 Parsiana February-March 1999r The house of Navroji Patel Caterers of repute wishes all Iranis and the Parsi community a very happy Jamshedi Navroz.e Mubarak POWER PUSHER FINANCIAL SERVICES Private Limited Hanoz P. Patel and Zubin R Patel For all your catering requirements Contact Mr Bomi Navroji Patel Mr Kaizad Patel 139-A, Nazir House Cumballa Hill, Bombay 400036 Tel: 3649319, 3640393 Mobile: 982IO 28I4I Dealing in bonds, issues, company fixed deposits, HDFC, UTI, Lie, mutual funds, post office savings, PPF, shares, primary issues, inter ­ corporate deposits, 10% tax free relief bonds. Office; 306, M B House, 3rd floor, 79 Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Tel: 2846522, 2846521 Fax: 022-2846521 Res: 3866533, 3879979 talk on religion by Dastur Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa to the 2,500-strong Zoroas ­ trian community under the auspices of the Zartoshty Brothers ’ Fund. Baroda youths organize blood camps, produce their house magazine Zend. volunteer in the summer vacation camp organized by the panchayet — the first of its kind with water sports, games and antakshari, the participants stayed at the dharamshala for two days at Rs 200 per head, informed Kaizad Engineer. The BPPfs star project, the Holiday Programme for Youth opens various career opportunities and provides expo ­ sure to develop talents, noted Mistry attributing its success to DianaMarfatia ’s hard work and BPP support. Marfatia will soon be on her way to the US for a postgraduate diploma in leadership, in ­ formed Mistry. Palkhiwala reported that their Poona football team won the all-India Zoroas ­ trian monsoon games in Bombay. Ballivala spoke of their annual elocu ­ tion contest and scavenger hunt in Calcutta and noted that 22 youths from that city had attended the 12th All-India Youth Seminar in Jamshedpur. Speak ­ ing on behalf of the Delhi youths who were unrepresented at Devka, Sethna Burjor Framji & Company Licensed Plumbers Sanitary & Drainage Contractors Marine Man.sion, 1st Marine Street, Bombay 400002 Tel: 2083207 70 Parsiana February-March 1999MATRIMONIAL Parsi, Scandinavian citizen, management expert, independent business consultant, member of leading professional bodies, awarded high European professional honours. Also professional writer, management professor. Two kids, girl 8, boy 7. Seeks well-educated lady, 30 to 45, living anywhere at present, any marital status. Will live in Scandinavia presently, later winters in India. Photograph appreciated, returnable. Full details to: Hilbur Daruvala 17 Colaba Chambers Bombay 400005 Phone: 2151001 E-mail zoroastrian@usa.net . Bakshi Chempharma Equipments Private Limited Manufacturers of Process Equipment for Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Fertilizer, Food and Allied Industries in SS, CS, Aluminium, Monel, Nickel, Titanium, etc A-45. Road No 10, Wagle Industrial Estate, Tharie 400604, India Tel; 022-5322429/5326615/5485599 Fax: 022-5310055 E-mail: bcepl@bom3.vsnl.net. in WWW: http://www.indian-exporters.com/ BCEPL referred to their Farohar activity where pre-teen children attend a weekly get- together at the Delhi Dharamshala to learn their navjote prayers, customs, tra ­ ditions, etc. Two years ago their team had toured Gujarat where they had sung monajats. “The current crop wants the trip to be repeated, ” informed Sethna, adding that they had also been invited to go to Agra. Students of the Dahanu Youth Asso ­ ciation ’s cosmopolitan school will now be appearing for their SSC board ex ­ ams, informed Pervez Irani. Special classes were being held for the Zoroas ­ trian children at the agiary and “the mobed has motivated the youths to wear caps. ” Eruch Irani sought to know why Pervez Irani, who is now no longer in the youth category, remained the Dahanu youths ’ only representative at Federa ­ tion meets. Agra ’s depleted population has only five youths, none of whom attended the meet. The Borivli youths were unable to attend the Jamshedpur seminar as they failed to get railway reservations. Yasmin Bhote of Mhow reported that Tehmton Anklesaria, president of the Ratlam anjuman, is sponsoring 10 youths for a trip to Udvada. With best compliments from SEW ELECTRICALS Private Limited Electrical Engineers and Contractors 104, Shree Hanuman Ind Estate, 42-B, G. D. Ambekar Marg Wadala, Mumbai 400031 72 Parsiana February-March 1999PERCY AND KAIZAD ROADLINES Private Limited Transport Contractors & Fleet Owners Contractors to Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd Godrej-GE Appliances Ltd Krupp Industries (India) Ltd Daily and direct services to: Maharashtra, MP, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Punjab Regd Office: 111, Trapinex House, 1st Floor, Sholapur Street, Mumbai 400009 Resi: 2185674, 2182885 Office: 3718679, 3727831, 3740913, 3774531, Mobile: 9820077300 With the compliments of DAKS COPY SERVICE PRIVATE LIMITED Apeejay House 3rd Floor, 130 Apollo Street Mumbai 400001 Phones: 2844672, 2844862 Zarthost Mobarakai, president of the Dahanu anjuman informed the gather ­ ing that Dahanu fanners were unable to find suitable brides. He urged BPP trust ­ ees to anange get-togethers in Bombay so that parents and children could meet each other. He explained that farmers were not in a position to go for youth programs in distant cities like Jamshed ­ pur because their profession does not allow them long breaks. “Forget Bom ­ bay girls, ” advised Gandhi. “We ’ve found that Bombay Parsis don ’t want to go out. ” Mogrelia of Madras suggested that the BPP matrimonial bureau arrange more frequent meets with a wider pro ­ gram so that interested parties from dif ­ ferent parts of the country could avail of the facility. Tamboly informed of the parallel facility offered in Dadar by so ­ cial worker Mithoo Jesia and Palkhi wala spoke of their work in Poona, claiming to have arranged three matches in the course of the past year. Behram Dastur considered the arrangement of marriages within the faith as the moral, social and religious responsibility of the elders of the community. Karanjawalla reported on a few in ­ tercity meets organized under the With Best Compliments From A WELL-WISHER 74 Parsiana February-March 1999With the compliments of GLOBAL DIRECTORY OF ZOROASTRIAN FIRE TEMPLES FOZYA banner which provides finan ­ cial aid up to Rs 3,000. He also pro ­ posed that FOZYA underwrite religious lectures in the mofussil. Having suc ­ cessfully arranged a leisure trip to Nepal last year, he promised more in the fu ­ ture. TATA CHEMICALS LIMITED (The company that cares) A coffee table book with colour illustrations and history of fire-temples of the world. For the finest literature on Zoroastrianism, Parsi history, audio cassettes of prayers, songs, research services contact: Marzban J. Giara Dhunmai Building 667, Lady Jehangir Road Dadar. Mumbai 400014 Tel: 4166204 E-mail: giara@ bom5.vsnl.net. in Those attending the Federation meet ­ ing were: Hosang and Dolat Debara from Agra; Porus Karanjawalla, Perzid Daruwala and Hormuzd Dastur from Ahmedabad; Aspi Contractor from Ajmer; Capt Homi and Shirin Dandiwalla from Allahabad; Daulat Mohta, Pervez Mehta, Roomi Sanjana, Homi Pithawalla, Meki Kadodwala and Viraf Pithawalla from Bardoli; Baman Cama, Cyrus Cooper, Ruhshad Cama and Kaizad Engineer from Baroda; Sarosh and Pilloo Ginwalla, and Dara and Shirin Mahudawalla from Bharuch; Jamshed Guzder, Silloo Kavarana, Dinshaw and Bachi Tamboly, Behram Daslur, Sheroo Master, Gool Kias, Mehli Colah, Zelda Mistry, Mancher Karbhary, Yasmin Charna, Behram Irani and Percy Mehta from Bombay; Noshir Paghdiwalla, Kersi Dubash, Marzban Wadia and Yezdi Motivala “A good conscience is the best divinity ” Heartiest congratulations to on its 35th Anniversary Wishing you many more greater achievements and glorious moments. Keep it up! We are really proud of you. Good wishes and best compliments Russi, Nergish, Karishma, Shaan 76 Parsiana February-March 1999Chindhy INDUSTRIAL Sl DECORATIVE PAINTERS 4, East Street, Camp Pune 41 1 OO1 Phone: 3403’74 Res: B3BO27 Fax: 84001 2 Email: FabioOnamasteindia.com With compliments from ^P.A. DARUWALA & COMPANY • Engineers • Contractors • Builders 53-C, Meherzin, I09-A, Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005 Telephones: 2181352/2187778 Fax: (91-22) 2188952 Piroja Mansion, Ground Floor, Opposite Grant Road Station (E), Mumbai 400007 Telephones: 3092974/3088231 from Borivli; Nauzer Batlivala from Calcutta; Zarthost and Arnavaz Moba ­ rakai and Pervez Irani from Dahanu; Dosabhai Oliaji from Daman; Rohinton Daviervala from Sanjan; Lt Gen Adi and Khorshed Sethna and Keki Gandhi from Delhi; Minoo Engineer from In ­ dore; Aspi Irani and Mehrwan Irani from the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman; Silloo Surti from Jamshedpur; Ronny Dick from Jhansi; Nariman Mogrelia from Madras; Behram Masani, Phiroze Illava, Keti Kothawala, Yasmin Bhote and Persis Bulsara from Mhow; Jamshed Cassad from Nagpur; Bahadurshah Dalal from Nargol; Dara Irani, Eruch Irani, Firdaus Kayani, Boman Irani, Sarosh and Navaz Palkhiwala, and Ashtad and Dilzeen Engineer from Poona; Homi and Roshan Palsetia, Nariman Balsara and Adi and Ruby Balsara from Saronda; Dr Bahadur Jokhi, Faramros Jokhi and Persi Bu- hariwala from Vyara-Songadh; Eruch Surti from east zone and Mani Clubwala from south zone. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Marazban Patrawala, Maj Firoze Patel, Bazun Dittia, Meher Banaji and Burjor Antia were special invitees. The Press was represented by Parsiana. With Best Compliments From MUSTANG ENTERPRISES Manufacturers of Mustang Cotton Socks and Gents ’ and Children ’s Undergarments 219, Milan Industrial Estate, Takarsa Jivraj Road 78 Parsiana February-March 1999TRADITIONS Surfing surnames - II There is never an end to the Zoroastrian surnames Further to the list of 1,173 surnames carried under “Surfing surnames, ” {Parsiana, February-March 1997) Burjor M. Daboo of Ahmedabad sent Parsiana a second list of 407 surnames that came to his notice in the course of his ongoing “labor of love. ” Thus, while Gandhi appears in the original list, little known varieties like Bholagandhi and Kaalaagandhi find place in the annexure. The first list had not a single surname from the letter Y, while the new list has six surnames listed here. Although many surnames may not be comprehensible, there can be no mistaking some like “Mydear. ” Imagine starting a letter “My dear Mydear! ” A Aabaadaan Aagaazadeh Aarianfar Aasa Aasavaid Aavshiyan Aazadi Aazarmanesh Abesteh Abester Afayla Atkham Aidun Alghabi Amaanat Amalsad Anjeerwala Anoshiravani Ardeshiri Aresh Arestani Aryamehr Ashraabaadi Aslaji Astor Atashband Atroliwala Attaie Ayem B Baafna Baajwala Baaraalaakhi Baasta Baastani Baati Baa wan Bachaana Bahadur Bahmani Bakhtiyar Balia Bambaawala Bamerdi Bandrawala Banglorewala Barafwala Barhamond Barjobehram Barniwala Batha Beckon Behdinan Behrampour Behrozi Bekhradina Belikaka Bellihomji Bennet Bhansali Btrathania Bhathawala Bhathela Bhoja Bhojana Bholagandhi B homi a Bhurana Bhuri Bhutha Bobbinmaker Bonshai Borkhadiwala Bozorgi Bozurgechami Brandy wal a Bunsha Burmawala Burze Buzorg C Chaamdaawala Chaarania Chakkar Chandiwala Chena Chhappania Chhatriwala Chili China! Chobdar Collie Cowascama 80 Parsiana February-March 1999 D Dadamani Dadamari Damubed Darbian Darjeelingwala Darvish Eibari Eindawala Elchi F Falahati Fallahzadeh Ganjipa Gard in Garsasbi Ghaibi Ghodhrawala Godaawra Golawala Hormazdi Hormazdiaran Hosangi Hubliwala Humranwala Davalien Davier Dehradoonwala Delina Delkhan Devkawala Dhaarwar Dhanda Dharampurwala Dhasina Dhumpal Dinyari Dinyarian Divaan Dohadwala Doongriwala Fai aamarzi Faraasman Faredooni Faredoonian Farhangis Faridani Faroodi Farouhar Farshid Farsiwala Farzaadi Felteli Firozpurwala Fisher Golimarwala Gorakhpurwala Goregam wal a Gourabian Guineawala Guiv Gumasla Gushtaspour Gustav E Ebtedai G Gaajwala Gaanjia Gandiwala H Haladwala Harvest Harwaar Hazari Hirawala Hirjikhurshed Hodiwala Honarmand I Icewala Iranpour Itakbewala Izadian J Jaafrabaadi Jaamaspi Jaamooji Jagos Jahaanian Jahina Jaiya Jalgaonwala Jambusarwala Jamshidian Jarah Jaykar Jubaanian Juiban Jum Junvanwala Kayanian Kayanipur Kerfegar Khaarawala Khairabadi Khalerar Khani Khanizadeh Khapoliwala Kharoliwala Khataarawala Khobiyaar Khodabaksh Khodadad Khodavandi Khormaie Khosravi Khosravian Khudemuradi Khurodi Khushroshahi Khusrokhan Killawala Kobla Kocheck Kohina Kushesh K Kaalaagandhi Kabulizadeh Kadkhodian Kaifer Kaikhoslirowzadeh Kai alia Kalfati Kalianwala Kallaigar Kalvachia Kankikhau Karaaria Karachiwala Kasmabadi Kaviani Kavoosi Kayani L Laafa Laalaajijina Lodhanwala Lohar Lohraspi M Macca Mahuvewala Mahuwala Maktedar Malach Malaiwala Malao Malir Maney Manna Marzbani MashruwalaI Mazdiyasni Mazkoori Mehdiabadi Meherabani Meherabanipour Meherfar Mehershahi Miller Mitibarwala Mobaaraki Modarai Mojani Mojgani Mojia Mombasawala Mondegari Mondgarian Mooga Moorawala Moradiyan Moriabadi Motabhoy Motapara Moti Mugat Mukati Mumbrawala Mydear N Naanwala Nadiri Najadkay Naksatkhan Nalladaru Nallaseth Namdarian Nameranian Nanmanizadeh Naqvi Nasaraabadi Navawala Navia Nejabat Nikamresh Noruzian P Paajnigara Palandaru Panchmahalwala Panty Papa Pardese Parelwala Parsi Parvaresh Pashutanizadeh Phanti Pirozmand Pochee Pookiani Popti Pourushasb Purdehgon Ragdiwala Raimalwala Raisi Rangwala Rasaldar Ratheshtari Rivelna Rostami Rumani Rumwala Q Qazi O Oliaji Ookerji Oshidary Ostavary R Raasti Rabbani Raffi S Saatpaniwala Sabeti Sabza Saiwala Salamati Saniya Sandaltan Sarbhanwala Sarl ’eh Saroshyari Saroushi Saroushian Sasani Scniar Sepehri Sevadia Shahlori Shahparast Shahzadi Shari ari Shari I'abadi Sharoukh Shasheri Shelengi Sheri arji Shirazi Shokri Shoqli Shotori Shukrekhuda Sibina Singara Sogu Somandy Soravati Sorkhab Stationmaster Sudder Sukhlaa Suvarna T Taapla Tankariwala Taraa Tarachand Tavana Tehran! Tester Thaakraji Thookchat Tirandazian Varzavand Vasawala Verhamian Vyajkhor Vyara Vyarawala W Waghaiwala U Unaan V Valodwala Valsadwala Valvadia Valveriwala Vandriwala Vanoriwala V apiwala Varaachchawala Varahramyan Varwadewala Y Y azadani Yazadiyar Yazdabadi Yazdegardi Yazmaidi Yegtahi Z Zainabadi Zandbaf Zanzibarwala Zaroliwala Zarthosty Zend Zohrabi Zorabian Customer IS. always light When he entrusts his Household Shipping, Removal, Storage.,., ali his problems to B.C. Buhariwala & Sons. fAake the right Move, Call: Vuhafiufata S' Sons 5 J. N. Heredia Marg, Ballard Estate, Bombav-400 038. Door to door Service Tel.: 2615451/3. 2613137 Fax: 22-2620785 BRANCH OFFICE: 1310, Pragati Towers, Rajendra Place, Hew Delhi - 110 008. Tel. Mos.: 5711876, 5730795 Fax : 11-5720399 Represented throughout the World by more than 600 officesCOMMENT The fountain of wisdom The virtues and vices that need to be promoted and abhorred are encapsulated in the Mainyo-i-Khard Capt Hormazdiar J. M. Desai The Mainyo-i-Khard consists of some 62 questions, with a series of sub-ques ­ tions, asked by a wise man — a sage — to the “Spirit of Wisdom ” and the an ­ swers given by that Spirit. In the rare book printed at Stuttgart, Germany in 1871, the eminent Orientalist Dr E. W. West gives in Roman characters, the Pa ­ zand and Sanskrit texts “as arranged by Neriosangh Dhaval in the 15th century. ” He also gives an English translation andaglos- sary of the Pazand text. West empha ­ sizes that the work furnishes the Parsi “with a compendium of much of the mo ­ rality, and some of the mythology and cos ­ mology ” taught by dom. ” He supports this conclusion by and Spitama Zarathushtra it is, in many emphasizing that this meaning is well places, asserted that the Creator created expressed by Ncriosangh ’s Sanskrit this creation through divine wisdom, phrase paralokiya ya huddhih — the Through a desire for wisdom, the sage wanders through the world and studies many religions. He concludes that the best religion is the Mazdayasnian and that wisdom is the best guide. He is convinced that “the Creator and the creatures that are in the world were created by Hormazd through original wisdom and the advance ­ ment of the world and the spirit is through wisdom. ” The Spirit of Wisdom, pleased with Other world ’s wisdom. West opines that the personification of divine wisdom Whoever has acquired wealth from crime, and there is pleasure for him in it, then that pleasure is worse for him than unhappiness and Spitama Zarathushtra it is, in many his religion in the Middle Ages. The book does not deal with religious rites or ceremonies. West had spent 20 years of his active professional life as an engineer in Bombay. During this period, he studied Sanskrit, Zend and Pahlavi. West is modest enough to emphasize that he is not a philologist but acknowledges the That one who has made wealth from regular industry is to he considered as happy implies the exist ­ ence of “a spirit to represent it, that assistance and advice of his learned Mainyo-i-Khard does not appear in the Avesta but the term “asn-khard ” is the “asno-kharatush ” of Yasna 22.25 which must mean “natural, innate, instructive or original wisdom. ” In the invocation of the book a sage refers to the “learning of learnings, the the thoughts and wishes of the sage and by his emi ­ nent piety, displayed unto him a body and asked the sage to seek clarifications and instructions from him “so that he may be a guide to the satisfaction of God and the good, and to the preservation of the body in the world, and to the deliverance of the soul in the spirit. ” Then starts the series of questions by the sage (S) and the answers by the Spirit of Wisdom (S W). Only aselected few typical shortquestions and answers are carried here: S: For the preservation of friend Dr Martin Haug and states that but for his encouragement, the prepara ­ tion of the book would never have been undertaken. The term “Mino-Khirad, ” normally used by Parsis, is best understood by them as heavenly intelligence or divine Mazdayasnian religion — the founda- wisdom. We often use the word mino tion of wisdom ” bestowing every nov- and gethi — heaven and earth — in our prayers. But because of the use of the firmly acquiring benefits, most whole ­ some to the body and soul of the two worlds. In the discourse between the Creator idhafat ‘i ’ in the Pazand text Mainyo-i- Khard as many as 113 times. West pre ­ fers to translate it as “the Spirit of Wis- 85 Parsiana February-March 1999 tion of wisdom ” beslowin elty for the appropriation of wisdom in ig the body, and the deliverance of the soul, what one thing is good and more pre-eminent? SW: Of the benefit which happens to men, wisdom is good since it is possible to impel the world by the power of wisdom and it is possible to acquire heaven also for one ’s self by the power of wisdom. Hormazd has created these creatures and creation which are in the world through original wisdom and also the advancement of the world and the spirit is through wisdom. S: Is liberality good or truth? Is thank-? ? The Best Professional Services Buying and selling of shares '' Writing accounts * Filing of Income Tax returns and also under new scheme of 1 out of 6 * Buying and selling of flats/office Application of RA. No. * Vipul Shah Tel: 4156791/92 Fax; 4124824 With Best Wishes From A Well-Wisher fulness good or wisdom ? Is devotedness good or contentment? SW: In the soul, liberality; and in the world truth; and unto God, thankful ­ ness; and in the body of man, wisdom and in all business, devotedness and in the comfort of the body and the subjuga ­ tion of Ahriman and the demons, con ­ tentment is good. S: Is wisdom good or skill? SW: Wisdom that has no goodness with it is not to be considered as wisdom, and skill that has no wisdom with it is not to Living in fear and falsehood is worse than death be considered as skill. S: What is that pleasure worse than unhappiness? SW: Whoever has acquired wealth from crime, and there is pleasure for him in it, then that pleasure is worse for him than unhappiness. S: Is living in fear and falsehood worse or death? SW: Living in fear and falsehood is worse than death since everyone ’s life i.s With Best Wishes From Mr Rusy M. Shroff, M.B.E. and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff 86 Parsiana February-March 1999A A M V rMKAH W niniDTT HADAPTT DADAR T.T. EVERYTHING IN TEXTILE HITtCARI With Best Compliments From ESi IHBKSfiS'al Stockist for: Trans Asia Giriraj Conductors Prop. Parekh & Co. Broadway Shopping Centre, Dadar T. T., Mumbai 400014 Telephone: 4120085, 4124820, 4120759, 4140739 Imperial Mahal, Khodadad Circle, Dadar T.T., Mumbai 400014 Telephone: 4121936, 4120926 Fax: 91 224146361 No Branches necessary for the enjoyment and plea ­ sure of the world and if the enjoyment and pleasure of the world are not his and fear and falsehood are with him, it is called worse than death. S; Of kings, which is the one thing more advantageous, and which the more inju ­ rious? SW: For kings, conversation which is with the wise and good is the one thing more advantageous, and speech and conversation which are with slanderers and double-dealers are the more injuri ­ ous for them. S: Of the rich, who is the poorer, and of the poor, who is the richer? SW: Of the rich, he is the poorer who is not content with that which is his and suffers anxiety for the increase of any ­ thing. And of the poor, he is thc richer who is content with that which has come and cares not for the increase of any ­ thing. S: Which is that wealthy one who is to be considered as happy and which is that who is to be considered as unhappy? SW: That one who has made wealth from regular industry is to be considered as happy and that one who has made it from irregularity as unhappy. ZORO GARMENTS PRIVATE LIMITED (An Eligible Export House Recognised by tbe Govt, of India) Manufacturers ancJ Exporters of ReadymacJe Garments, Made-Ups & Fabrics Address: C-3, Industrial Estate, Ambattur, Chennai 600058 Phone: 6252416/6252497/6256215 E-Mail: zoro.gmts@axcess.net.in Fax: (91) 44-6257789 88 Parsiana February-March 1999COMMENT Moved by their mission A visit to Navsari and its surrounding villages reinforced the author’s faith in the Zoroastrian commitment to magnanimity Burjor H. Antia wish that all other Parsi institutions earn such compliments from their inmates. sible because of the munificent dona ­ tion given by the trustees of Bai Maneck- t,T t’e - s Behram, it was his solemn wish that his marriage ceremony should be performed at the same venue. So he brought his bride from the UK and got married in the Atash Behram in the morning. In the evening a reception was held at Jamshed Baug. It is being said that “NRIs re ­ siding abroad are more patriotic than Indians residing in India. ” Similarly, I can say that our Zoro ­ astrian l3rothers residing abroad are more concerned and caring about our religion and traditions than some of us residing in India. On Friday, January 1, 1999 we visited the villages of Gangaria, B Dhoti Kuva, Sadad Devi and S Vaghai and interacted with the I Bacha, Mehta, Tangri and Jivasa I families who are doing poultry I farming, cultivation of land, etc. I But two Parsi ladies, a bedridden _ I mother-in-law and her young \ ! daughter-in-law having six chil ­ dren (all working in Bombay or ? elsewhere), staying in the jungles I of "Vansda took the cake. They have been staying alone in the jungles of Dang, prohibited for human inhabita ­ tion. There is no electricity or water, but the two ladies Alice and Jinibai are stay ­ ing alone in a jungle to protect and preserve their ancestral land. Even their dog was devoured by a leopard. I marvelled at the ways of Almighty God: Parsi ladies of Bombay and other cities where all medical facilities are available, have one or two children or even no child; while in a lonely forest a Parsi lady gave birth to six children and OntheeveningofDecemberSl, 1998 her physical condition is splendid. there was a wedding reception at Jamshed Baug in Navsari where a Parsi Zoroas ­ trian couple had come all the way from I have some idea about the condition of poor Parsis living in Bombay and it was my desire to augment this knowledge by This beautiful Centre was made pos learning at firsthand the condition ot ................ poor Parsis residing in the surrounding areas. During the Xmas vacation I visited Parsi institutions in Navsari such as the Parsi Infirmary, Boys ’ Orphanage and the D. M. Mehta Hospital. The Mehta Hospital was es ­ tablished about 80 years ago as a maternity home for Parsis only, but thanks to the sagacity of the then trustees, it was decided to convert it into a full-tledged cos ­ mopolitan hospital. It is now well established, having about 180 beds with medical facilities available to residents of all the communi ­ ties of Navsari. Poor Parsi pa ­ tients are taken in free of charge or at a concessional rate. Even today, for the delivery of a child, Parsi mothers stay in the Hospital for 40 days and the charges are only Rs 800 for the duration. Hats off to the foresightedness and practical approach of the then trust ­ ees of the Hospital, which makes it not only survive today but to also thrive despite the falling numbers of our com ­ munity. I was most impressed by the World Zoroastrian Organisation ’s (WZO) Bai ManeckbaiP. B. Jeejeebhoy Senior Citi ­ zens Centre at Navsari. It is well planned, well managed and each inmate feels at plete harmony and cooperation among home. The boarding and lodging ar ­ rangements are excellent. One of the conditions for admission to the Centre is that the applicant should be mobile, so therewasaweddingreceptionatJamshed My visit to Navsari and its villages that he is free to go out for a stroll or to Baug in Navsari where a Parsi Zoroas- was made possible by the trustees of the the fire-temple. trian couple had come all the way from WZO Trust, Dinshaw and Bachi Tam- I was touched by the remark of one of England with about 20 relatives and boly, Phiroze Panthaky and Farokh the inmates of the Centre: “Generally friends to solemnize their marriage. As people go to heaven after their death, but the bridegroom was originally from I am enjoying my heaven during my lifetime by staying at this Centre. ’’ I Hard lives, ramshackle homes Photo: Homyar Mistry, Homz Prints bai Jeejeebhoy Fund. On December 31, I visited Bardoli and met the trustees and members of the Bardoli Anjuman. I also visited the reno ­ vated Petit Dharamshala at Bardoli. What I observed among the members of the Bardoli Anjuman was that there is com- them, a shining example for other anjumans to follow. Kassad. I always believe that on auspicious occasions we should not forget our poor brethren. So on behalf of our Navsari Navsari and his navjote ceremony had been performed at the Navsari Atash 90 Parsiana February-March 1999Enjoy authentic North and South Indian Chinese Continental Vegetarian Food At “SAPPHIRE” Veg. Restaurant & Bar © “7^ S>ftena£tl Deluxe Suite/Apartment Hotel Juhu -Tara Road, Bombay 400049. For Reservations Phone: 619 12 35 Also available LAWNS for Banquets, parties, etc. (50-200 pax) & landscaped roof-top terrace (upto 60 pax) Parsi Association we decided to give financial help to about 20 poor Parsis of Navsari and nearby villages. We per ­ sonally went to their residence on the evening of January 1 to give them finan ­ cial help. In my opinion the WZO Trust is doing excellent work for our coreli ­ gionists in Navsari and other villages of Gujarat by providing self-employment or monetary aid for poultry fanning and other cultivation, etc. WZO is at present providing such facilities in 96 villages and looking after 275 family members. To date it has provided financial assis ­ tance of about Rs 2.5 crores, thanks to munificent donations from the Hong ­ kong Zoroastrian Association, Bai Maneckbai Jeejeebhoy Fund, etc. Thankfully, the missionary spirit is still alive to do good for the community. The Tambolys with their dedicated team of helpers have changed the lifestyle of poor Parsi villagers. Then there is Nariman Dubash. Though a behdin, the mission ofhis life appears to be to ame ­ liorate the conditions of our poor priests. Since our arrival in India about 1,300 years ago, no anjuman or punchayet or any of our rich sethias have thought it fit to felicitate our priests who have dedi- With best compliments from TECHNICA OFFICE SYSTEMS Private Limited Manufacturers and exporters of furniture Show Room Rati Villa, Motibai St, Opp Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai 400007, India Tel: 91-22-3867411/12/13 E-Mail: jrd@giasbm01 .vsni.net.in 92 Parsiana February-March 1999With Best Compliments From SPENTA TRAVEL AND TOURS PRIVATE LIMITED Hospitality Services: *Air/Bus/Rail Bookings *Hotels/Resorts/Water Parks *Car and Bus Rentals Passport/Visas/Insurance/ F.T.S. Package Tour/Camps/Picnics *Event Organisers Party Kitchens/Institution Catering 33, Hampton Court Colaba Road, Mumbai 400005 Tel: 2187659, 2154919, 2151567 Tel Fax: 022-2181653 E-mail: spenta@bom2.vsnl.net.in * *¦ *¦ Greetings for a happy NAVROZE from the VIRJEES of Panchgani cated their entire lives to our religion. It was Nariman Dubash who chose to fe ­ licitate 250 full-time practising priests of 50 years ’ standing, or their widows, by personally visiting places like Surat, Navsari and Udvada. He has donated about Rs 1.50 crores to date. Khojeste Mistree is another behdin who is spreading the knowledge of our religion in our community; particularly amongst the youth, sometimes even at the cost of receiving brickbats. He is a qualified chartered accountant from the UK who, if he had so chosen, could have led a prosperous life in the UK rather than undertaken tedious and thankless tasks here. Needless to add that there are several more such persons with missionary zeal in our community working in their re ­ spective fields of endeavor. Kudos to all of them for their spirit of service, in contrast to those who make it their busi ­ ness to find fault with the good work of others. In the past I have celebrated many a New Year ’s eve by dining and dancing in five-star hotels and posh clubs. But spending my time with the poor of our community on New Year brought a deeper sense of satisfaction. With Best Compliments From Manufacturers of ‘Wibs ’ Products IRANI FOODS AND INVESTMENT COMPANY Private Limited 100 D’Lima Street, Dockyard Road, Mumbai 400010 94 Parsiana February-March 1999COMMENT Only priests, no pope Like the Pope, the high priests in the community need to moral leadership, recommends the author assume Aspi Moddie g conse- I have often wondered if the great lay ­ men sethias, wealthy merchants and high professional trustees of the last 200 years, who assumed community leadership, have ever paused to think of the conse ­ quences of relegating the Zoroastrian priest to a secondary, prayer-offering ritual-enacting place; with no signifi ­ cantrole in the community ’ s wider stakes and its intrinsic quality. Which has, a.s a consequence, been damaging to thc community ’s spiritual and cultural iden ­ tity and inner strength. These are ques ­ tions which apply beyond India and Pakistan to the whole diasporic commu ­ nity, which took the consequence.s abroad with them, post- 1960. And what have been the quences on community governance to ­ day of at least three significant examples of that sethia/high priest leadership look ­ ing to external authorities to resolve internal community problems? First, the local Hindu ruler, Damaji Organisation for taking an initiative in Rao had to intervene and decide the controversy over priestly jurisdiction between Navsari and Sanjan priests. Second, the intervention of the Gover ­ nor of Bombay in 1785 to appoint commission to decide on the issue of the marriage of Zoroastrian priests and Zo ­ roastrian women of non-priestly fami ­ lies. (A transferred problem of Brah- mins and non-Brahmins in a Hindu soci ­ ety?) Third, in 1822 a British Court in Surat was asked to rule whether two atash bchrams (Kadmi and Shahanshahi) could co-exist in one city. After centu ­ ries of religious wars, Catholic and Prot ­ estant churches have co-existed in the same towns and citie.s of the West (from “Psychological Profile of North Ameri ­ can Zoroastrians ” by Dr Dolly Dastoor). Do all such examples show a basic lack of self-confidence and democratic tolerance in self-government within the holy indignation, and the lay sethias are community, as ahistorical legacy? Doe.s it indicate a weak traditional leadership ol sethia and high priest in autonomous governance within thc community? If so, what arc its roots and causes in so educated and well-to-do a community? We are not an illiterate tribe in some Pope John Paul II, in some ways, an backwoods. Have wc not found our own exemplar of the age in public leader ­ souls and our ow n identitic.s in these two ship, though many do not agree with his centuries of growing awareness and well ­ being? Do we not have Zoroastrian teach ­ ings and criteria for better self-gover ­ nance? Let the community debate and find the answers. It i.s ol lundamental smallerstage? Admittedly, there are vast importance in an institutional world. There has been quite a bit of public debate about the governance of our lay sethias in the last 30 years; unfortu ­ nately, not very favorable. Both leaders and thc led don't seem to take good governance very seriously in commu ­ nity lile. Whatever the constitutional flaws and limitations, in the light of this historical background, some credit must be given to the World Zoroastrian The lethargic community is set on fire. Then the fire dies down in time. All revert to traditional apathy. Let us look at another high priest. orthodox views on family planning and abortion. At the start, may I raise the question, is it fair to compare the Pope with Zoroastrian high priests on a much historical differences. But what one man can do on a global stage, another can do on a local one with similar qualitative effect. One does not have to have a scepter, a Pope ’s hat, and a following of 50 million, before one becomes a moral and a social exemplar. Neither Nelson Mandela, nor Archbishop Tutu waited for that. Pope John Paul II put himself amidst his fellow Poles against the then gigan ­ tic power of the USSR. He gave leader ­ self-governance in a foreign land, and sustaining it in recent decades. It was shipexpressiontothehatredofthecom- contrary to the external dependencies of munist state ’s ungodly repression, not thc two previou.s centuries. This also only among the Poles, but among the applies to the federal units in India and North America. External dependency is giving way to internal debate and some responses. And how does the community see its high priests? They see them on the dais beginning of the end of that “evil on ceremonial occasions, offering prayers and rituals; and beyond that, no real role in public affairs on public occa ­ sions. They sec them offering prayers and ritual openings at Zoroastrian con ­ gresses, and then virtually divorced from most of the proceedings of the congress; with isolated good and not-so-good ex ­ ceptions. But come a ease like Roxan Shah, and a high priest ’s breast bursts with a caught mindless on a hot issue.which had been brewing for at least a decade. entire free world. With no military divi ­ sions (Napoleon once asked how many divisions the Pope then had), he was the- inspiring leader in the battle for the souls and minds of Central Europe. It was the em ­ pire. ” It was personal and spiritual im ­ pact which destroyed the communist myth. On a far smaller stage, did any of our high priests or sethias play an approach ­ ing role, when the Parsis of Dadar were threatened by Shiv Sainiks of extermi ­ nation “in half an hour, ” for giving shel ­ ter to fleeing Muslims in the Palamkote Hall in the Bombay riots of 1993 ? Where was indignation and leadership then? Do we have any real causes, beyond unscientific genetic ones? When Zbigriew Brezezinski, a former 96 Parsiana February-March 1999APPOINTED VALUERS OF JEWELLERY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GAZDAR PRIVATE LIMITED Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay Tel: 2023666, 2023366 Ext 3204 Telegrams: “MANUSCRIPT” 98 Parsiana February-March 1999 American secretary of state, was asked about the Pope ’s historical legacy, he gave three answers. First, Pope John Paul II revitalized the Catholic Church, earlier torn by the issue of freedom in theology. He revitalized the inner core with inner discipline and with theologi ­ cal coherence; both needs in the Zoroas ­ trian community, especially theological coherence after a century of sterile dis ­ putes between so-called orthodox ritu ­ alists and rational reformers. Second, he played a role as a unifier between the three Christian Churches of Rome, Canterbury and Byzantium by resolving some theological issues, and by personal contacts never known in earlier centuries. He also moved the Church closer to the Jews with his ex ­ plicit rejection of anti-Semitism. (At the Fifth World Zoroastrian Congress, we heard a Bombay priest shockingly jus ­ tify absurd Parsi racialism with a refer ­ ence to Hitler ’s Mein Kampf.') Third, he has contributed to the awakening of the moral dimension in a hedonistic mod ­ ern life. At the heart of tradition is not just ritualism, it is ethical morality, a respect for all life, kindliness and love; once taught in the family, in the local community, not transferred to a thera ­ peutic ‘welfare ’ state, or abandoned in the name of freedom into a “permissive cornucopia. ’’ That is now at the heart of the Clinton affair. Pope John Paul II is advocating a balance between the state ’s social justice and public and private morality to define a good life. We await such significant responses in modern life from Zoroastrian high priests too, not least in the diasporic community abroad; and especially in its most vital section. North America. Or is it emerging from the non-priest com ­ munity there, scholars and concerned Zoroastrians? They seem to be the re ­ surgent soul of Zoroastrianism, in the spirit of Zarathushtra ’s frasho-kereti, refreshing the world! A management consultant, Aspi Moddie is a former IAS officer who early in his career opted for the private sector. His voice was , . _ evident at the Jj|||||||H||j^ Fourth and Fifth ¦ World Zoroas- than Congresses Il in Bombay. His i book, Zarathush- I tra's “Frasho- I Kereti:" Renewal In Our Time was published 1996. 13 ¦' 1?, 11 inCOMMENT Did I do wrong? A promise to send the kusti to Paris was not honored My family has always looked upon a certain learned dasturji for guidance and sometimes, ceremonial assistance. This dasturji was extremely well regarded by all Zarathushtis, his erudition and schol ­ arship were unassailable. Therefore, I always desired to know his personal views on conversion. He never gave us his opinion. Once, visiting him, we found him reciting prayers into a cas ­ sette recorder, intenupting him ­ self often to record some com ­ mentary. We asked him what he was doing. He replied that he wa.s expecting some Japanese students who had requested him to record some specific texts, with his com ­ ments. (The following conversa ­ tions with him took place mostly in Gujarati; I will try to retain their sense and flavor in English. Phonetic transliterations would be exhausting!) I asked him, “Dasturji Saheb, afterstudyingourreligion,donot these people wish to be initiated into our religion? ” “Yes, some of them really do !” “Then, Dasturji Saheb, what is your own, personal view on accepting such people, who after deep study wish to be one of us? ” “Bandaa, my personal view is ex ­ actly that — personal. Being in the posi ­ tion I am, any public expression of that view, one way or the other, would gen ­ erate controversy; and I feel it my func ­ tion to promote harmony, not cause fur ­ ther divisions. ” And that was that -— for the moment. My next chance for finding out his personal view came some years later. (Please understand, I was not try ­ ing to “put him on the spot ” or anything Ijke that. His opinion would have mat ­ tered deeply to me.) Driving him to and from my home for a jashan ceremony, I related the following experience to him; “Dasturji Saheb, over 25 years ago, I was a student £ 101 Parsiana February-March 1999 Nariman H. Wadia in London from 1960 to ’62. I was returning home, first overland to Italy, then by ship from Genoa to Bombay. “A. friend of a friend asked me to carry a small parcel to Paris, deliver it to a lady at a certain address. I agreed, and took the parcel not knowing its contents. If conversion xSo/MEWHERE in ?apan ______ < WA5 PERA^iTrep. " UM!I'm ai>i Ajinomoto /^ II HAI(/ IM ^Ahchi MlKlMOTt). meet over $aki and ^ALI bdTiy <6 oJ o 0 (In those days there was no problem with security.) ‘‘Go reaehiog.-lhe ¦a^lfess' in -Paris, I was aghast to find that the lady was in fact a nightclub dancer, a striptease ar ­ tiste. What I had carried was a jar of body make-up. I was a pucca bawaji prude in those days (still am), and was greatly embarrassed in the presence of this girl, a tall and very attractive South American — Brazilian, Argentinian, I do not remember her nationality. “Acutely uncomfortable, I wanted to give her the parcel, and get out of there as soon as possible ! Although she sensed my unease, she could not just let me run away, and tried to make small talk. Sud ­ denly she asked me if I was a Parsi. “I said I was, and expressed surprise that a South American ‘artiste ’ had even heard of our little community (this was early 1962). She became quite agitated, and began to ask me questions about our community, our religion, our ceremo ­ nies. I was ashamed to parade my total ignorance, but expressed my curiosity — why was she interested? “Well, it turned out that she was a student at the Sorbonne University, and her subject was Comparative Religion. The ‘dancer ’ occupation was only the means to allow her to continue her education. She declared her ­ self to be a Zoroastrian. “I laughed, and said she could not be! She became very serious and asked why not! I once again acknowledged my profound lack of knowledge of my own reli ­ gion , but could only stammer that it was impossible for her to be a Zoroastrian without a navj ote cer- emony. “‘But I am, I am. I am a Zoro ­ astrian, ’ she repeated over and over again. ‘I affirm my belief in the teachings of Zarathushtra, therefore I am Zoroastrian. I say my prayers. Look! I even stitch my own sudrehs and wear a common string around my waist, instead of the kusti.d cannot weave myself a kusti ! ’ “I was shocked, but more so when, before-she alfowed'^mego, she said, ‘Please promise me. As soon as you reach Bombay, get me a real kusti, and send it to me. Please promise. ’ “She convinced me, and I promised to send her a kusti soon. ” (In my car, sitting next to me, the dasturji was absolutely still. I did not even know if he had been listening to all this.) “Dasturji Saheb, are you with me? ” “Haa, Biradar, hoo badhoo samaj- hyo. (Yes, brother, I have understood everything.) You were shocked by the woman ’s profession, you were shocked at her faith in Ahura Mazda, you wereTARACHAND & Company Suppliers of the meatiest of Venky's Chicken Products Mafco ’s Pork, Dairy, Meat Cold Cuts, Sausages Al Kabeer ’s Mutton and Tender Meat Products this side of town We give free home delivery for bulk orders K & D Distributors Exclusive suppliers of Venky's Chicken Products for South and Central Bombay 80, Sleater Road Grant Road (West) \ Tel 3883691/3871277 102 Parsiana February-March 1999 shocked that she asked you for a kusti. Yet you told her you would send her one. I have understood everything. ” “Dasturji Saheb, that is not the end of the story. When I got back to Bombay, I asked one ot the elders in the family to obtain a kusti, for such-a-waist size, as I did not know how that translated into the gaj size normally quoted. The extremely The ‘dancer ’ occupation was only the means to allow her to continue her education. She declared herself to be a Zoroastrian small size surprised my aunt, and she asked me whom it was for. I told her the whole story. There was an uproar, Dasturji. I was lectured soundly on the holiness of our kusli, how it should not be given to anyone who wa.s not of our religion, that it would be defiled by the very touch ol such a woman, and so on. “I did not believe, having seen the fervor of that girl, that I would be com ­ mitting a grave sin by sending her the kusti which she so badly wanted. Over the next lewmonths, I allowed myself to lorget. But over these many years, I have sometime.s been deeply concerned. “Tell me, Dasturji Saheb, should I have listened to the elders? Did I do right, not sending the kusti, or did I do wrong? ” My revered Dasturji was silent. I wa.s watching his eyes in my rearview mir ­ ror. I saw a look which said, “I under ­ stand your trick, my friend. You arc still asking the same old question. I under ­ stand perfectly. ” He was silent while my car slowly crept from Chandanwadi to beyond the first lew sari shops on Queen ’s Road, Bombay. That was maybe two or three long minutes. Alter which, he put his hand gently on my knee. Taking hi.s time, he gently ; as he spoke, quite sadly rocked my knee and regretfully, -'Bhool kidhee, dost! Bhool kidhee. (You made a mistake, Iriend ’ You made a mistake.) ” I had my answer. my Edited and reprinted from FEZANA Journal, Fall 1998 With De«st Coflipliments of CPEC LIMITED 1, Industrial Estate, Lalbaug, Bombay-400012 Tel: 413 7353, 7431, 0349, 4128387, 1591 Fax: 0091-22-4130937 Pioneer in the field of manufacture of Mechanical power transmission systems. •Helical and Bevel/Helical Gear Boxes ‘Worm Reduction Gears ’Inline Helical Gears & Geared Motors •Automatic Control Variable Speed Pulleys & Drives •Non-Standard & Custom Built Gear Boxes •Flexible Couplings etc.COMMENT Jals ’ Detective and Protection Services, Mazda Security Services & Jals ’ Consultancy Services Conducted and Operated By Jal B. Contractor Proprietor Dy. Commissioner of Police, Bombay (Retd.) No Branch Office We provide all your requirements for: Confidential investigations, security-guards, bodyguards (armed and unarmed) in plain clothes. Armed guards in uniform for property protection. Cash/valuables escorts, dog squads with handlers for land-patrolling, etc. Well trained, disciplined and experienced staff. Reasonable rates, round the clock services. Contact: Office: Jer Baug, 293, Dr Ambedkar Road, Byculla, Mumbai 400027 (Under the Fly Over) Tel: 3711642, 3711670, 3775707, 3728549 Residence: G-1, Fariyas, Cumballa Hill, Kemps Corner, (Next to Shalimar Hotel) Mumbai 400036 Tel; 3634161/3641581 104 Parsiana February-March 1999 Because I care ” Instead of being enveloped in her own misery the author chose to help those in distress Daisy Presswalla life is just one long educational process where one continues to learn till the last one ’s inner organs. I was taught that the gireban — the one of them an enjoyable lunch. I also work in the nursing home where I talk to old people, look after their frail bodies. About 19 years ago, I was very sick with cancer. I had undergone surgery, and various painful treatments. I was very day on this earth. Now I regularly pray, upset, angry, and asked myself: “Why meditate and fast. Particularly, I find me? ” One day I decided: “That ’s it. I am not going to my doctor, I will take charge same time, it also cleans and gives rest to of my own body and be my own doctor. ” I started to look in ward, to communicate with Self. Things began to happen. The pocket in front of our sudreh — stores first thought was to stop feeling sorry for what good we have done in our life, myself, let go of my anger, ego, listen to Presently I work in a big soup kitchen in the inner voice, and take care of my body, mind and soul. As our religion says, with good thoughts, good words people stop and ask me why I come here and good deeds, I put myself in the hands of Ahura Mazda, and was ready any time he called for me. I love material things but am not particularly fascinated by anything. I and do not comprehend. I serve these told my husband Faruk not to worry, to be in good spirits, carry on with his life, and let someone enjoy my material things lips, a smile on my face, and wish each when I go to meet the Maker. One has to leave this physical existence empty- handed just as one enters this life. Once free of fear and anger, it is easy to live play ball with them and feed those who life, enjoying everything and desiring nothing. I feel that my sickness made me into a changed person. I feel strong through the experience, watching carefully what the superiority of my religion over oth- I say or do, always thinking about the other person ’.s feelings. I started follow ­ ing a course of exercise, a diet devoid of chicken and fish (red meat was never a thinking. I have been requested to corre- part of my food), lifting weights and spond with cancer patients in India, praying four to five times a day. Talso which I do on a regular basis. I have began to enjoy nature with walks in the started doing something I never thought open,- observing the sun, moon, stars and other creations around. As I began to feel strong, I started My sister had come over from India to taking care of cancer and AIDS patients help me. She asked me if her Christian and learned quite a lot from my sick friends. People in these circumstances develop a common bond and freely con ­ verse about their experiences in life. I was always able to pick something good from these friend.s and warmly incorpo ­ rate it in my life. Soon I found out that fasting offers significant inner strength, power of will and self-discipline. At the Trenton, where I help with cooking and serving food for 500-800 people. Often every week to help them. To this I have a standard reply; “Because I care! ” People respond differently: some offer their blessings while others are put out homeless persons with the words of Dadarji (the Almighty Giver) on my cannot feed themselves. I go to church on Sundays to baby-sit so that parents can enjoy their prayers peacefully. My narrow and erroneous view of ers was gradually laid to rest as I began to study other philosophies. This has. broadened my horizon and changed my of before: to pray for their well-being. I recall an incident when I was sick. friends could pray for me? I retorted with vanity; “No thanks, I can pray myself. ” Now I realize how wrong I was. At that time I was quite angry, and used to argue with my sister, not recog ­ nizing her kindness in coming all the continued on page 182COMMENT The Renaissance man The credit for India’s progress in nuclear science goes to Homi Bhabha Jamsheed Kanga Bhabha: lured the best brains ta serve the country The destiny of India as the world ’s sixth nuclear power was decided by a quirk of fate. A brilliant young physicist work ­ ing at Cambridge decided to come home vclopment of science in India at the pace on holiday to Bombay. Before he could return, the Second World War broke out and it was not possible for him to resume his teaching at Cambridge. The young man of 30 years was Dr Homi J. Bhabha. A brilliant student throughout his career, he went to Cambridge in 1927 to study engineering which would have ensured him a career in industry. How ­ ever, Bhabha ’s love for physics was overwhelming and he persuaded his fa ­ ther to let him switch over to physics after he secured a first class in the Me ­ chanical Science Tripos; and two years later he passed the Mathematical Sci ­ ence Tripos again in the first class. After getting a number of prizes and distinc ­ tions and working in Zurich and later Rome with the great Dr Enrico Fermi and in Copenhagen at the Bohr Institute, he taught at Cambridge from 1935 to 1939, and along with Prof Hytler of the University of Heidelberg enunciated the Cascade Theory of Cosmic Ray Show ­ ers. Finding himself unable to return to Cambridge, Bhabha became a reader country and build up schools compa- and later a professor in the physics de ­ partment of the Indian Institute of Sci ­ ence (IIS) at Bangalore under Prof C. V. Raman. Having worked in the rarefied atmosphere of Cambridge and mingled with the world ’s best scientific brains, Bhabha had the vision to realize that by a sound case, I think there is a very similar research institutions were needed in India. Though the IIS was one of the best science institutes at the time estab ­ lished by the visionary Jamsetji Tata, founder of the House of Tatas, in Banga ­ lore in 1911, it could not concentrate on fundamental research in physics or math ­ ematics as well as a small university department could, or even a general the eltatrman of the Dorabjt Tata Trust purpose research institute. Bhabha ’s restless mind felt some ­ thing had to be done. On August 19, 1943 he wrotealetterto J.R.D. Tatathat concluded: “The scheme I am now sub- “lack of proper conditions and intelli ­ gent financial support hamper the de- mining to you is but an embryo from which I hope to build up in the course of time a school of physics comparable with the best anywhere. ” The trustees accepted the responsibility of funding such an institute but felt that this respon ­ sibility should be shared at the outset by the Bombay University and the Bombay Government. Subsequently, the Tata Trust along with the Government of Maharashtra and the Government of India undertook this responsibility and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Re ­ search (TIFR) came into existence as an autonomous body. This event may well be considered the start of modern scien ­ tific research which ultimately enabled India to build up the talent that helped to project it into the nuclear age. Bhabha in one of his speeches had foreseen that “when nuclear energy has been successfully applied for power pro ­ duction in say a couple of decades from now, India will not look abroad for its experts but will find them ready at hand. ” His vision was matched by that of the trustees of the Dorabji Tata Trust who undertook the financial responsibility for starting the TIFR in April 1944, more than a year before the explosion of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The TIFR enabled Bhabha to attract the best brains to work for the country.. In those days it was not the lure of money but the lack of opportunities for scientists and mathematicians that per ­ suaded them to go West. However, the good chance that Sir Dorabji Tata Trust spirit ofpatriotism was burning bright in would respond. After all, the advance ­ ment of science is one of the fundamen ­ tal object! ve.s with which most of the great astrophysicist, S. Chandrashekhar Tata Trusts were founded and they have already rendered useful service in this field. ” On March 12, 1944 Bhabha wrote to which the talent in the country would warrant. If proper facilities are available it would attract the best Indian brains as it is one ’s duty to stay in one ’s own rable with those in other lands. ” JRD, a visionary member of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, responded enthusiastically. He suggested that “if you and/or some of your colleagues in the scientific world would put up concrete proposals backed their hearts and many were overjoyed to be working for the country. Even the was approached by Bhabha with an of ­ fer of a chair at the TIER and Chandra- shekhar responded by saying he had no hesitation in accepting “a professorship in vhe \ns,vu\ile uridw vha ciTCUimstanc&s you have described... ” Though ulti ­ mately Chandrashekhar did not accept the chair on a permanent basis, he con- suggesting the setting up of an institute exclusively devoted to fundamental re ­ search in physics and mathematics. He 106 Parsiana February-March 1999r - allotted for this purpose. Here the Atomic Energy Establishment (AEE) came into existence and started functioning in peaceful purposes, namely, power gen- 1954. Till then the various departments of AEE were scattered over a number of lishment in the UK. Of course, at that time the entire object of research was for tinned to come to TIER as a visiting professor. Many other brilliant scientist.s work ­ ing abroad were attracted back to the country now that they had research fa ­ cilities comparable to what wa.s offered places: in Kenilworth, in the old Yacht elsewhere. Govind Swarup and four In ­ dian radioastronomers offered to return, and fornied the radioastronomy group which built one of the largest radio tele ­ scopes in the world. Prof Ob Siddiqui, a renowned microbiologist founded a flourishing depart- ment of microbiology. Fa- mous Indian scientists such as M. G. K. Menon and Raja a Ramanna owe their eminence to the opportunities available f to them under Bhabha ’s in ­ fluence at the TIER which 4 became the nursery for India ’s nuclear physics. The history of the creation of TIFR is remembered by the pioneering scientists with nostalgia. The first home of g TIFR was a part of Bhabha ’ .s J aunt ’s bungalow at Peddar Road called Kenilworth. The « other half was still occupied ; by his aunt, who used to sup- / ply tea and snacks to the sci- entists from her own kitchen. When the institute needed more space it was first shifted to the old Yacht Club at Gateway of India. Subsequently, with ing the help of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru TIFR was allotted a plot of land al Colaba in Navy Nagar much against the wishes of Krishna Menon, then defence minister of India. This is where the beau ­ tiful edifice stand.s today. Bhabha ’s success was due to the pres ­ ence of JRD and Nehru. JRD wa.s a nationalist at heart and his vision of India made him assemble a group of experts to formulate the first develop ­ ment plan for India called the Bombay Plan. In Nehru both Bhabha and JRD found a kindred soul. With his support there soon came into existence an inde- ' pendent department of atomic energy and the Atomic Energy Commission by an Act of Parliament with Bhabha as its first chairman, directly under Nehru. Bhabha soon realized that for India ’s development of atomic energy, TIFR would not be enough and that the time designed and built in India by Indian had come to start new laboratories en ­ tirely devoted to this research. The pro ­ posed laboratory was set up in Trombay ship of Bhabha and Sir John Cockroft where 1,200 acres of marshy land was who headed the atomic research estab- 109 Parsiana February-March 1999 eration. It was Bhabha ’s immense prestige in the world of science and his friendship with the leading scientists of his time that enabled him to get assistance and collaboration from establishments in the western world. In order to build reactors for experiments and to acquire atomic power generation technology, with the - help of his friend from Cambridge, Prof W. E. Lewis, who was head- ing the Canadian atomic energy (. program, Bhabha finalized the Canada India Reactor Project for t building a heavy water nuclear reactor. Constructed by Indian sci- entists along with Canadians, it W was successfully completed in Ife ^960. In his excellent book Bhabha And His Magnificent I IP Obsessions Prof Venkataraman jjg, writes that Bhabha promoted atomic energy not merely be- cause it promised a steady source of energy for centuries, but also H because the best way in which India could take giant strides in technology was for her to swing into an area like atomic energy where the rest of the world was only about five to 10 years ahead, unlike in other areas where she was decades behind. It was the early start that India got with the creation of TIER and the AEE that enabled a host of young scientists and engineers to carry out research un ­ der conditions comparable to the best institute.s in the western world. Thus India was able to develop the first peace ­ ful nuclear device exploded in Pokhran in 1974 under the leadership of Dr Homi Sethna, another protege of Dr Bhabha. It must be remembered that Bhabha never intended his efforts in the nuclear field to be used for making a bomb one relocated in beautiful new buildings at day. In fact he was one of the pioneers of Trombay. Thereafter great leaps were made in the development of atomic energy in India. The Apsara Reactor was planned in 1954 and went into operation in 1956. It was a major milestone because it was Energy, ” by popular acclaim Bhabha was elected its president, a great honor when one considers that compared to other countries India ’s atomic energy program was in its infancy. It was a measure of the respect the international Club, in an old defunct textile mill on Cadell Road and in barracks at Colaba made by the Navy dur- ’f'N .. *5^ wir^ -l ’’J 'ViiMiiliiiiraP.BjiiJ “'IIW gEWi ‘‘ ¦>i 'iS?'' iW® rf •If |!41 w,- 4..,', ,1 II ifet. ''S' ,* ¦' the War. Eminent scientists like Ramanna, Dr A. S. Rao and many others thus began working in makeshift laboratories until they were / Bhabha never intended his efforts in the nuclear field to be used for making a bomb themovement for peaceful uses of atomic energy . When at President Eisenhower ’ s suggestion the United Nations decided to hold an international conference in Geneva on “The Peaceful Uses of Atomic scientists. Only the fuel elements came from England thanks to the close friend-With Best Compliments From A WELL-WISHER The old Kenilworth where the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was born scientific community had for Bhabha Today, India can hold its head up in the world of science because Bhabha dared to dream and had the courage to fulfill his dream. I cannot think of a better tribute than the one given to him by one of his colleagues, C. F. Powell: “Homi was Nature, which are characteristic of the great figures of the Renaissance. But role to play in all ages. ” Unfortunately, none of our national leaders have bothered to mention the role he played in the country ’s scientific who played a memorable role in this conference. His presidential address was a brilliant essayon “The history of man ­ kind and its constant struggle to im ­ prove its control over the sources of energy in nature. ” One wonders what Bhabha would surely a man out ofhis own time. He had have felt now that India ’s energies seem the wide breadth of interests, the pen- to be diverted from the production of etrating intellect, the abounding per ­ power to that of nuclear warheads. Un- sonal confidence in the ability of the fortunately, on both the occasions when human understanding, by observation India exploded nuclear devices, it was and experiment, to unravel the secrets of because the government of the day needed a big bang to bolster its prestige. Bhabha ’s untimely death in an air crash perhaps such figures have an essential on January 23, 1966, when an Air India night from Bombay to Geneva crashed in the Alps, deprived India ofhis leader ­ ship in the scientific field. Today, however, when the country is development. I hope this omission will passing through a jingoistic phase of self-praise and wc are proudly proclaim ­ ing ourselves as a nuclear superpower, one has to remember what the country during his tenure with the Indian Administra- owes to the vision of Dr Homi J. five services, Jam- Bhabha. ,, , .... . W4t,. worked as joint secre- Besides being a brilliant scientist, tary(projectsandfinan- Bhabha was a true Renaissance man. *'* 'Tj cial adviser) Depart- His interests included painfing and ap- ment of Atomic Energy, predation of art and music. His out- Government of India, standing administrative skills enabled B SS®tf^l/STlSJ him to single-handedly create institu- ¦¦¦ ¦¦ been with the Tata tions such as the TIFR and the AEE at Housing Development Company Limited Trombay, now called Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Out of these grew other departments of space and electronics, all headed by his proteges. I 110 Parsiana February-March t999 soon be rectified. Former municipal commissioner of Bombay, where he was formerly vice president and managing director, and is currently senior corporate advisor. For over a decade he served as trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet.COMMENT COVER STORY On a throne of stone The establishment of the Navsari Atash Behram was due greatly to the efforts of Desai Khurshed Tehmuiji Hormazdiar J. M. Desai specifically for the purpose. From 1090 AC, the Zoroastrians had begun to disperse and settled in parts of Gujaval such an Vankaner, Broach, Variav, Anklesar, Khambayat and Navsari. With the disper ­ sion, the economic condition of - the priestly class deteriorated since the number of their clients decreased substantially. Hence the division of Gujarat into five panthaks was made for sacerdo- HH tai work. When disputes started between the mobeds from Sanjan and the Bhagaria mobeds from ¦I Navsari, Shah Changa bin Asa reminded them of the five divi- sions for sacerdotal work. The ; were to do I khadmat or serve the sacred fire T; and retain all the proceeds of the I offerings. The Bhagaria mobeds I of Navsari were to perform all JI religious ceremonies in connec- K' tion with the living and the dead. The Sanjana mobeds were pleased with the arrangement and an agreement to this effect was signed by both the parties. After some time, however, the Sanjana mobeds went back on the agreement and the dispute look a serious turn. It was in ’ 1740 that Damaji Rao Gaikwar gave a ruling that the Bhagaria priests of Navsari had the right to officiate even in the houses of the Sanjana priests. Not ............................. satisfied with this decision, the Sanjana When the pious behdin Shah Changa priests agitatedUnsistingthaUhey ou^t bin Asa of Navsari went to Bansda to i pray at the atash behram, he thought that i the sacred fire should be brought and located at Navsari. He convened a meet ­ ing of the anjuman and all enthusiasti ­ cally agreed to his suggestion. Then Shah Changa,with a devout band of Zo ­ roastrians, went to Bansda and ceremo ­ niously brought the sacred tire to Navsari Not many Zoroastrians know that the and enthroned it i I was privileged to read two excellent treatises in Persian verse; the Qisseh-i- Zarthushtian-i-Hindustan Va Bayan-i- Atash Behram-i-Naosari written by Das ­ tur Shapurji Manockji Sanjana at the end of the 18th century, and Ahewale Atash Behrani-i- Naosari written by Mahiyar and Framarz Navroji Kutar, pub ­ lished in February 1926. The internationally reputed scholar, the late Dr Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, had contrib ­ uted a learned paper on the Qisseh in Journal No 17 of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute. Giving a free version of the Per ­ sian text, he has stated that there were only two extant manu ­ scripts of the treatise — both in the author ’s own handwriting. The first draft, corrected at sev ­ eral places, was with the re ­ puted scholar Sorabjee Mun- cherjee Desai of Navsari; and the second, a fair copy, with the DasturMeherjiRanaLibraryof ' J Navsari. Modi states that the first part ' of the Qisseh treats of the early settlement of the Parsis in India, while the second part deals with the foundation and consecration of the atash behram at Navsari. defer ­ ring to the dates ofcvents in the Qisseh, he states that in 651 AC, on the tail ofthe Persian Empire, the Zoroastrians of Iran flew to Kohistan. After a hundred years ’ stay in hiding there, in 751 AC the fugitives stayed for 15 years at port Hormuz. When the Abbassid Caliphs came to power in Iran, the Zoroastrians left the shores of Hormuz and arrived at Diu in Kathiawar, India, in 766 AC. After 19 years in Diu, they arrived at Sanjan in 785 AC and founded, in 790 AC, the first fire-temple in India — the Iranshah at Sanjan. ii'i/ ftjt nil ‘ MHiir I I mobeds IS l.l. i i < f 1 1 ! •u J! I ( ' I I 1 1 i !'• Ti* I ’ 11 ¦ I ' U ; jJjj-b An entrance to the Navsari Atash Behrain complex Photo: Ashvin Mehta Bahrol from whence they arrived in 1502 AC to Bansda with the sacred fire. not to be asked to abstain from perform ­ ing obsequial and other religious cer ­ emonies of members ot their own fami ­ lies. Since Damaji Rao ruled in favor of the original agreement executed by the ancestors of the Sanjana priests, the Sanjanas sought permission to depart from Navsari with their sacred fire. Damaji Rao consulted Desai in a tmod house vacated Khurshed Tehmuiji who firmly opined 'O114 Parsiana February-March 1999 BT** M .Itsi They brought the sacred fire to Navsari and enthroned it in a good house vacated specifically for the purpose . *4' ii ’ r.- : BBIBS fcliiS ;”i .-tj r ¦¦- < ¦l 1 IBS I® 5 } Different parts of the 233-year old venerable Atash Behram at Navsari Black-and-white photos: Ashvin Mehta j ) Hthat if the Sanjanas wanted to remain in Navsari, they had to abide by the agree ­ ment executed by their forefathers; if they did not agree to do so, they may be permitted to go back. The Sanjanas re ­ fused to remain in Navsari. At their own request, they were given a parvaneh to return. They left Navsari on roz. M Zamyad mah Spandarmad, Yazde- H girdi 1109, with the sacred fire and 9 went to Bulsar where they remained 9 for two to three years. With the H approval of Raja Durji Sang, they H enthroned the holy fire at Udvada, H where it is located even today. H Meanwhile at a Rapithvin jashan H held at the Dar-e-Meher under the H leadership of Desai Khurshed, H priests and laymen requested Desai H to found an atash behram in Navsari H behram, and on November 30, 1765, the fire was installed on a throne of stone under the dome built by Desai. Modi has Khurshed and his family. Modi states clarified that the ceremony to conse ­ crate the holy fire took place two months and 28 days after the date of the first the atash behram was founded, con ­ structed and maintained by Desai that on the whole, the Desais are justi ­ fied in saying that Khurshed built the atash behram. But an impartial study of the data supplied by the Qisseh shows that “both the sides are par ­ tially right and partially wrong. ” A scholar whom I hold in the highest esteem —the reputed author of Oriental Treasures — the late Jamshed Cawasji Katrak has this to . say about Desai Khurshed: “This ¦ great and good leader of the Parsis... Xi'' was desai (i.e. revenue authority or . collector of Navsari) from 1728 to I 1779 AD. We find from his own I diary that he learnt religious knowl- I edge and Persian from the learned ¦ Dastur Darab Pahlon. His father (Tehmulji) was desai of Navsari from ¦ 1700 to 1728 AD and suffered hard ­ ship, injustices and oppression at the hands of higher government offi ­ cials at Surat. Tehmulji ’s father Rustomji and grandfather Homji Fardunji were also desais. ” Katrak continues, Khurshedji was chiefly instrumen ­ tal in the construction of the new atash behram at Navsari in 1765 AD... He exerted his power and in- ' fl uence with the government to have many heavy taxes removed. He was in truth the leader and guide of the Bhagaria priests... He introduced many beneficent customs amongst Navsari Parsis. ” His name was, and is even now, great in Navsari. ” The first Parsi desai known by name was Changa bin Asa, who brought about the transfer of the sacred fire, first founded in Sanjan, from Bansda to Navsari. Modi further states that when the Maratha leader Gopibhai sent a band of , * in his lifetime. The religious sardar 5^ -S’ Navsari’s Vadi Dar-e-Meher Photo: Ashvin Mehta replied, “I also pray for the same work day and night... I am ready. ” I The assembly recited tandarosti and I resolved to found the atash behram. B Four leading dasturs offered their | fll services and produced ancient books B and manuscripts to settle the proce- ft dure for the ceremonies required to ft be performed to prepare and conse- ft crate the sacred fire. At the instance of Desai Khurshed various Parsi cen- ters were informed of their resolve to found an atash behram. The re- sponse from the centers was posi- live and encouraging. Desai Khurshed requested Dastur Sohrab, son of Rustomji Meherji Rana — a descendant of Dastur Mahyar (Meherji Rana) who had gone to the court of Akbar, to hasten the work of preparing the sacred fire. On the author ­ ity of a manuscript belonging to Dastur Darab Pahlon, Desai was informed that 16 fires of different kinds, i.e. from places of work of different tradesmen, were required. Desai appointed Dastur Sohrab as leader of the work and permit ­ ted him to select his own team of mobeds. Out of some 200 mobeds who offered * their services, 100 were selected. All the 100 mobeds took the selected 16 fires to the Dar-e-Meher, recited yazashne and vendidad over them; and they agreed on the adushti.e. the stone slab upon which the vase (afarganyu') stands. This united consecrated fire became the atash behram. All officiating priests were given double the usual wages by Desai which pleased the mobeds. A proper gumhaj (dome) was prepared for the kingly atash supportive evidences to authenticate that and noble Desai Khurshed Tehmulji. “Desai proposal to found the atash behram. The enthronement took place 10 months and 17 days after the commencement of the ceremony. 1 would not like lo get involved in the controversy as to whether the atash behram should be known as ‘Desai plundering soldiers to Navsari, a sum of Khurshedji ’s Atash Behram ’ or ‘Anju- man ’s Atash Behram. ’ Suffice it to say that the Bhagaria priests give the lion ’s share of credit to Desai Khurshed in the truly saved Navsari from being plun- work of the foundation, construction and inauguration of the atash behram. But according to them the expenses were shared by others also, and hence it is really the Anjuman ’s Atash Behram. My uncle, the late reputed scholar ‘Bappa ’ — as he is still very lovingly Sorabji Mancherji Desai, author of some 1 15 books in Gujarati, has written a book,y4Zrzi77 Behram-I-Desai Khorshed. In this book, he has quoted some 114 the ninth direct descendant of the great Rs 35,000 was settled as ransom. Desai Khurshed paid that amount on behalf of the people out of his own pocket. He dered and destroyed. He also dedicated the Khurshed Wadi — named after him — for the use of the anjuman for all its festive and public purposes. But the greatest service given by Khurshed called — was helping the Navsari anjuman to found an atash behram of their own. Indeed, I am very proud to be 116 Parsiana February-March 1999INSTITUTIONS Lighting up a landmark As part of its 150th year celebrations, the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Parsee Benevolent Institution illuminates its heritage building and releases a new biography of its founder, the first baronet As the invitees congregated on Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Road looked skyward. Jamshed Guzder pressed the switch to illuminate for the first time in its 126- year-old history the stone facade of the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Parsee Benevo ­ lent Institution (SJJPBl). Light ­ ing the night sky in accompa ­ niment were multi-hued fire ­ works, serving to enhance the elegance of the columns and balustrades ornamented in three different styles on each floor — Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. Strategically situated within the protected heritage precinct Jjy of Fort, the SJJPBl joins a grow ­ ing list of historical buildings whose illuminated facades add luster to the Bombay heritage scene at dusk. An automatic timer ensures that the lights go off at 10 o ’clock. The inauguration on Janu ­ ary 8, 1999 sponsored by Guzder and the trustees of the CSD Aden walla Trust marked a high point in the 150th anni ­ versary celebrations of the SJJPBl (see “The edifice of education, ” Parsiana, February-March 1998). “Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (first baronet) will feel very proud that the senior-most trustee of this institution [Guzder, who is also thcchair- man of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) whose offices are housed in the same building] is associated with this illumination, ” stated Rustom Jejeebhoy, son and heir of the present seventh bar ­ onet. “We have hitherto suffered from an ‘identity crisis, ’” quipped Rustom, with most people knowing where the office of the BPP is situated, but not the J. J. School! He hoped that “coming into the limelight ” would solve that identity crisis! Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the seventh baronet, presented Guzder a silver sal ­ ver in appreciation, with a picture of the building etched into il. Acknowledging 119 a February-Mar 1999 Hilla P. Guzder also the guidance and assistance of building right next door, ” Rustom Guzder ’s son Cyrus and commending pointed out. him for his interest in heritage struc ­ tures, Sir Jamsetjee presented him a painting of the building, which was re ­ ceived in his absence by his wife Maneck. of beautifully blooming bougainvilleas occupying the space where card ­ board boxes and a variety of wares (including pornographic literature clandestinely sold outside the school) usually clut ­ tered the pavement. Inside the freshly painted lobby at the foot L sfe of the wide staircase, the rustle ¦¦¦ of silken saris and the clink of crystal replaced the faintly ¦ S musty Dickensian air that had hitherto permeated the old struc- ture. The internal and external renovation of the building was supervised by the noted firm of architects, Talati and Panthaky- IHH Associated Private Limited without charging any fees. The execu ­ tion at an estimated cost of Rs 40 lakhs was by Manek Dinshaw and Company. The SJJPBI’s fund-raising drive over SJJPBl’s heritage structure Photo; Karunakar Boloor (Darpan Photos) 60 lakhs, noted Rustom. ih I “The first baronet did not live to see this building being constructed, ” noted the past year has generated more than Rs Guzder, “but the offices of the BPP came to be housed here as Sir Jamsetjee was also the chairman of the Parsi Punchayet. ” It i.s in the fitness of things, he joked, that 150 years later another Marshal (chief guest Sam Manekshaw) Jamshed, who is also a trustee of the School and the chairman of the BPP, should be involved with the restoration and illumination! “We have however not been able to light up the arches because ofthe hawk ­ ers, ” lamented Rustom. They are so well entrenched, he stated, that they even have phone and light connections! The gentle man, truly loved by all connected efforts ofthe municipality have not re ­ sulted in any success. Only the govern ­ ment, he believed, could achieve the desired result, provided it had the politi ­ cal will to do so. “Tliere i,s not a single hawker outside the Bank of Maharashtra For the evening of the function, how ­ ever, the hawkers had agreed to move out temporarily, resulting in neat rows A Bombay merchant “Half of you have come to hear the Field and the other half to see their children perform; I shall not be an obstruction to either, ” Sir Jamsetjee told the assembled students of the J. J. Schools, their par ­ ents and invitees at the Birla Matushri Sabhagar on January 9, 1999. Intro ­ duced by master of ceremonies Homai Modi as “a perfect gentleman and a with this Institution, ” the chairman of the SJJPBl related how exactly two cen ­ turies ago his ancestor, the first baronet, had left Navsari a penniless orphan, arriving in Bombay to join his uncle ’s trade of selling old bottles (see “The=' cat: *w-| BssisI wSfl «*« f J 121 Parsiana February-March 1999 Top: Illuminated facade (Photo: Spectravision Labs); (inset) decorative terrace comer (Photo: Chetan Mistry) Middle row: Guzder switching on the lights flanked by Rustom (left) and Jejeebhoy; inside view ofthe gathering Bottom: SJJPBl trustees (back row) with the heads ofthe J. J. Schools (Photos: Spectravision Labs)I Mt, jfcH ’ S « I.- ft 122 Parsiana February-March 1999 'bi 'BS SirJaT I Top: Maneck Guzder (third from left) being felicitated; Karanjia addressing the audience; Middle: On the dais (I to r) Pal. Mody, Manekshaw, Jejeebhoy, Karanjia and Modi; Bottom: Manekshaw releasing Karanjia's hook on the first baronet (Photo; Spectravision Labs) benevolent baron, ” Parsiana, April 1998). “His is not just a story of a poor boy coming good, ” proclaimed Sir Jamsetjee. “He was unique in that he never forgot his poverty-stricken days. ” His character and compassion ensured I that he gave back in full measure to the city which gave him prosperity. Repeat ­ ing the first baronet ’s words. Sir Jamsetjee advised his young students: “One should never be proud of one ’s riches as riches pass away, only good name will endure. ” Judging by the re ­ sponse to their appeal for funds. Sir Jamsetjee stated that he was happy to note that “charity is still considered a virtue, not an income tax deduction! ” Presenting the School ’s annual re ­ port, administrator HemavatiN. Pal, who has been associated with the Institution for 34 years, declared that J. J. Schools followed a transparent admission policy , of “first come, first served, ” steering away from “elitism and crass commer ­ cialization. ” The founder ’s aim had been to create a fund to take in the poorest of poor students, she asserted, and the In ­ stitution had achieved its successes by “sheer dint of classroom teaching and not by courtesy of coaching classes, ” mentioning also that the Sir J. J. Girls ’ School had been the first to start com ­ puter education in south Bombay. Give me a Bombay Merchant - Any- time\, a biography of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, first baronet, by well-knownSesquicentennial concert: Boman Irani (cen ter) as the first baronet with J. J. students (Photo: Spectravision Labs) late, accompanied by gun-toting secu ­ rity and the rest of their retinue, sit on the stage revealing “four-fifths of their hairy legs and scratching the unimaginable! ” The Field Marshal asked the laughing audience to note, however, how well “suited and booted ” their chief guest was, nor was he suffering from any kind of urticaria! On a more serious note, Manekshaw exhorted the students and their parents to inculcate and enforce discipline in their own lives which would lead to tribute special sesquicentennial medals to staff members with long service and others being honored, Manekshaw en ­ livened the proceedings by planting kisses — to the blushes of the ladies and In his vote of thanks, ex-student and present trustee Minoo Mody termed his school an “oasis of discipline, ” remi ­ niscing however that discipline could not preclude such childish pranks as on back, all the way down the imposing stairway ! On the anvil as part ofthe sesquicen ­ tennial celebrations is The Art of Char- journalist, author and former chairman of the National Film Development Cor ­ poration B. K. Karanjia, was released by Manekshaw. The book, published un ­ der the auspices of the University of Bombay, aims to provide inspirational reading to school and college students. In his frank and forthright address deliv ­ ered in measured tones, Karanjia con ­ trasted the decaying condition of development ofcharacter. Asked to dis- Bombay today to a century and a half ago when the first baronet was alive. Sir Jamsetjee, asserted Karanjia, would be outraged at the sight of our “poor, ru ­ ined, plundered city, ” with its proliferat ­ ing slums, pathetic public hospitals with the merriment of the audience! patients lying on the floor in corridors and verandahs and ward boys suturing wounds, the crass commercialization of education and the “indignities that man has inflicted on man. ” Sir Jamsetjee, Karanjia emphasized, built institutions sitting on the bannister and sliding, bag by delving his hand into his own pocket. “In good times he was a godsend, in bad times he was a one-man relief center. ” Voicing similar thoughts, but in his frothy, inimitable style, Manekshaw ity — an exhibition and sale of contem- branded India the “most indisciplined country in the world! ” Discipline, he pointed out, is a code of conduct for decent living which has come down from time immemorial. Like a true and \ disciplined soldier, Manekshaw declared of Art. “Fund-raising will continue with that he honors the numerous invitations he receives by arriving at the function on the dot of the appointed hour, neither one minute early nor one minute late! Our politicians however arrive hours porary art featuring the works of 60 of India ’s most eminent artists including S. H. Raza, M. F. Husain, Ganesh Pyne, Laxman Shreshtha and others, many of whom are alumni of the Sir J. J. School proper utilization spread over time to fulfill our objectives, ” states Rustom, reiterating the family ’s continuing com ­ mitment, five generations later, to the SJJPBl and the dreams of its founder. 125 Parsiana February-March 1999 With Best Wishes From A Calcutta ZoroastrianINSTITUTIONS The lady ’s lamp of learning Bai Ruttonbai F. D. Panday Girls’ High School celebrates its centenary with a refurbishment of its premises and upgrading of its facilities Hilla P. Guzder students now number just 75 amidst 1,200 students of other communities, mostly Gujarati.s from surrounding ar ­ eas. “Wc still get a number of Parsi priests ’ children as well as the children of the khandias at Doongerwadi, to whom I give first preference, ” elabo ­ rates Commissariat. Also receiving pri- The young drum majorette ’s crisp com ­ mands led her all-girl band in marching patterns acros.s the stage, shrill pipes trilling in unison, drumbeats rhythmic, with clear clicking of sticks in the air. The Bai Ruttonbai F. D. Panday Girls ’ High School band, which has won lau ­ rels at ward, zonal and regional lc\cl competitions, flagged off — the centenary concert on December 4, 1998 at the Patkar Hall. Built by Sir Dinshaw Petit, first bar ­ onet, and Lady Sakerbai Petit and named after their daughter Ruttonbai who died at the young age of 31 in giving birth to Meherbai (the mother of Dr Homi Bhabha, founder of India' .s atomic energy program). Panday School completed 100 years on June 5, 199 <1 With Best Compliments And Good Wishes From MEHER S. CONTRACTOR 186 Parsiana February-March 1999188 Parsiana February-March 1999 Smita Crishna with the exclusive batik works reflecting a variety of shades and designs Photos: Chetan MistryHello, world we’re on the Web! 0 c? 0 is on the World Wide Web. Our informative features and in-depth reports are now accessible on-line. Visit us at voyage- india.com for travel news that's geared to you, the independent traveler. For more information contact us at info@voyage-india.com “The true origin of batik... can safely be presumed to be at least 2,000 years old ” among the different technical departments, ” she opted to devote herself to motherhood and now considers herself “too far removed from the advanced technology of today ” to return to it. “My parents never foisted anything on me. I am happy with the present scenario. ” With her two daughters now out of school, she says, “You either pursue a career or bring up your children in the best possible manner. ” While elder daughter Freyan is studying political science in America, one of the subjects which Crishna herself specialized in at college, younger daughter Nyrika won a two-year international bacca ­ laureate scholarship to the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy in mid ’98 where she now studies. Crishna is also interested and helps in useful causes like conservation, cleaning up Bombay and playing an active role on the music and arts committee of the Time and Talents ’ Club. As vice president of the Association of Inter-Married Zoroastrians since its inception in 1991, Crishna declares, “Our aim really is to safeguard our rights as Zoroastrians. ” Having studied French and some German, would Crishna be interested in learning Avestan? “I might be, ” she responds. “There should be more studying; it ’s a shame that we are not more interested. ” Her plate may be loaded right now as she experiments with different colors for the new batik creations but the tapestry of life may have its own designs... LONDON • Bed and Breakfast • Relaxed . Country • Three i. • Twenty minutes to • Easy access to C and Homely Atmosphere from Airport surroundings 0^'7^° station cXl London W .obo ¦ ' • I Central London and set in suburban area • Visitors CONTRACTORS Bombay Phone Nos: 3634161, 3641581 10.00 a.m. to 12 noon, 8.00 p.m. to 10 p.m. London contact Beroze M. Mody 10, Court Farm Road, Northolt, Middlesex, UBS 5HQ, UK Wks Tel No: 00441171 328 6018 Wks Tel No: 00441 171 625 1685 Resi Tele-Fax: 00441 181 841 3491 190 Parsiana February-March 1999FOOD Food has no frontiers Food oan bring about an understanding and acoeptance of different oultures and values Bhicoo J. Manekshaw Imagine an excellently prepared meal, without any taboos, well served, to men and women of different cultures! With the tasting and savoring of good food and the sipping of wines in congenial atmosphere, one experiences a deep sense of contentment. Talleyrand, the celebrated statesman, diplomat and gourmand of France had as his cook, the illustrious Antonin Careme. It is said that when Talleyrand biryani. But alas, it was not to be! In a was about to leave for the Vienna Con ­ gress to gain advantages for his country, he told his king, Louis XVIII, “Sire, I have more need of casseroles than writ ­ ten instructions. ” He later said that he had often been more indebted to the skillful creations of Antonin at hi.s table than to his sophisticated political help ­ ers for his successes. I have brought together here some delightful aphorisms and axioms quoted by some of the “Greats ” of European cuisine that I have taken from Larousse Gastronomique to emphasize the im ­ portance of the cook. Before that, I want to give you two instance.s of the many I’ve had that also point to the importance of the cook. As a young girl studying at the Queen Mary High School in Bombay, I had opted for domestic science. Our final examinations were on and during the lunch break a few of the girls who were taking maths were discussing their pa ­ per in great agitation. When I asked them what their problem was, I was told that I would not understand, as I was only a cook. “Yes, ” I said, “but if you make a mistake in your paper you can rub it out. If I put in too much salt in my dish would I be able to rub it off? ” “Touche, ” they said, and continued to bite their nails. I was in Lucknow with my friends Premola Ghosh and Urmilla Dongre who were on an assignment to photograph and write about the city . I had just tagged along. We were invited by Jaimal Raja of Jehangirabad where we had the most delicious subdeg at his table, which was renowned as the best in Lucknow. He was as interested in food as I was and as wc got talking, he invited us to taste the famous Lucknow biryani prepared by his cook. Wc arrived at the appointed time, our mouths watering at the prospect of the better life for himself. Careme had the fortune of knocking at the door of a cookshop owner who took him in and gave him his first lesson in cooking. Careme never looked back. His advice to ministers and diplo ­ mats: “The culinary art follows diplomacy and every prime minister is its tributary. “To preside over a political chamber or hold a post in an embassy is to take a course in gastronomy. “When there is no more cookery in the world there will be no more letters, no quick and lofty intelligence, no pleas ­ ant easy relationships: no more social matter-of-fact manner he informed us that he was sorry he would not be serv ­ ing biryani that day as his cook was not in the mood to prepare it. There was dead silence from all of us. We had done nothing but discuss the unity. ” dinner, and I was left with my mouth half-open. I don ’t know if I was more disappointed at missing the biryani or full of admiration for a Raja who bowed to his cook! Not to mention a cook who had enough confidence in herself to say that she did not feel like cooking a dish the Raja asked for — dare I say ‘or- Europe, dered? ’ She made it up to us by producing the most superb kakori kabab.s I have ever tasted or ever will. The service was carried out in detail. The entire barbecue preface: “The universe is nothing ex- was brought to within a lew feet of cept for life and everything that lives has where we were sitting. Kakori kababs do not travel well (I did not know that). The Raja told u.s that the second lot is always better and he was quite right. Kudos for the Raja and his cook! How many of us would have shown such an understanding of our cooks? And how many of our cooks would have had the guts to refuse to make a dish if ordered? Now for some delightful aphorisms and axioms from Larousse Gastrono- inique. Careme came from such a poor fam ­ ily that his father abandoned him in a tavern after giving him a meal, saying that his son had talent and could make a present. ” Careme should know, as he had worked for not only Talleyrand but also the Prince Regent who later became King George IV, the Russian Czar Alexander, the British Embassy in Paris and finally with Baron de Rothschild whose table was considered the best in Brillat-Savarin was a lawyer, politi ­ cian and master of gastronomical sci ­ ences. He wrote the masterpiece La Physiologic du Gout. I quote from his to feed itself. “The destiny of nations depends on their manner of eating. ” “Tell me what you eat and I shall tell you what you are. “The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star. “The most indispensable quality of a cook is punctuality. It should also be that of a guest. (Oh you modern jet-set people! Please remember this and don ’t think that it is the ‘in ’thing to go late to a party.) “To wait too long for a latecomer is to show a lack of consideration for all 192 Parsiana February-March 1999Desessarts was a man of wit and a gastronomique: “Good cookery is the food of pure conscience. ” Aeminus Paulus Plutarch was an army commander: “The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner. The first must be as formidable as possible and the second as pleasant as possible to the participants. ” (Will my brother-in-law Sam, the victor of the Bangladesh war agree on this point?) Lucien Temdret was the great nephew of Brillat-Savarin. He wrote in his book La Tableau Pays de Brillat-Savarin that; “Cuisine is both an art and a science; it is an art when it strives to bring about the realization of the true and the beautiful, called le bon (the good) in culinary ideas. As a science, it respects chemis ­ try, physics and natural history. Its axi ­ oms are called aphorisms, its theorems, recipes and its philosophy, gastronomy. “Cooking is one of the oldest arts and one which has rendered us the most important service in civic life. “Gourmandism is an ardent, rational and habitual preference for things which flatter the taste. “Gourmandism is one of the main links uniting society. “Digestion, of all the bodily func ­ tions, is the one which exercises the greatest influence on the mental state of an individual. “Theory and experience both prove that the quality and quantity of food He would not be serving biryani that day as his cook was not in the mood to prepare it have a powerful influence on work. “A badly nourished man cannot ad ­ equately cope with the effort of continu ­ ous work for any length of time. ” Here I must pause to clarify the mean ­ ing of the word gourmand. When I had acknowledged my esteemed friend Vijay Pillay in my book Parsi Food and Cus­ toms as a gourmand, I received many calls from friends asking me why I had called him a glutton. This is incorrect. Today a gourmand is wrongly described, even in dictionaries as a greedy person or glutton, just because the clergy said so. In the field of cookery and fine eating, it is exactly the opposite. The word is a French word and in French, it has no derogatory overtones. Brillat-Savarin was sternly critical of this interpretation. He said, “Authorities who thus interpret gourmandise have completely forgotten social gourmandise wYi'icti combines tVie e'legance of Athens, the luxury of Rome and the delicacies of France. Such gourmandise orders with discernment, supervises with wisdom, savors with enthusiasm, judges with pro ­ fundity. It is a precious attribute, which may well be esteemed a virtue for it is the source of the purest delight. Gour ­ mandise is the enemy of excess; every man who gives himself indigestion or gets drunk runs the risk of no longer being a true gourmand. ” In the old world of gracious living, the gourmet was but a sworn official, charged with the duty of tasting wines and spirits. These taster-grooms were once a brotherhood; today they are or ­ ganized into syndicates. Augustus Escoffier is to my way of thinking the finest European chef of the century. He was called the king of chefs and the chef of kings. Emperor William II of Germany gave him the title, “Em ­ peror of the world ’s kitchens. ” He helped CHEMOULD PICTURE FRAMES Princess Street, Near Parsi Dairy Farm, Bombay 400002 GALLERY CHEMOULD Art Gallery and Restoration Services Jehangir Art Gallery, 1st Floor, M. G. Road, Bombay 400023 Tel: 2844356/2833640 Fax: 2836058 E-Mail: galmchem.bom@smy.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in 194 Parsiana February-March 1999Our government has decorated people of almost all professions but not the cook, sustainer of life understanding, honoring and acceptance of different culture.s and ways of life through food, as food has no frontiers. Civilized man has dreamt of one world with malice towards none, where we could all live in peace and MATELOTE WITH RED WINE harmony. This can be drafted through the kitchen more so than by any other means. some recipe.s from the Add essence and mix well. Just before serving, spoon a few tablespoons of rum if desired. Fold Chantilly cream into the center and serve. Note: Change the plate after soaking the cake. From Escoffier: in the opening of the Savoy in London and later took charge of the Carlton — both regarded as the best hotels in Europe at that time. He started his ca ­ reer at the tender age of 12 and retired at the age of 74 (two years younger than I am, but then I did not start working at the age of 12, nor will I ever have his talent — but I am still working). His best known works areLe Guide Culinaire and Ma Cuisine. He modernized the old classical cookery of Careme. Although SA VAR IN Novelle Cuisine was introduced and is still produced in some hotels it could not hold its ground against Escoffier ’s clas ­ sical cooking, and as long as there are connoisseurs of French classical cook ­ ing, Escoffier will never die. Let me end with an anonymous source who said, “The pleasantest of ties is the Syrup tie of a host and guest ” and ask you if you agree with Lin Yutang when he says, “Food is of the first importance. ” Let me also ask all you highly educated artists, sports persons, doctors, econo ­ mists (I could go on), where would you Chantilly cream be without food to sustain you? I would often tell my husband, who was a doc ­ tor, that while he helped to save lives, I helped to sustain lives. Let me also ask the government why a cook has never been decorated. Who has given the respect due to the superb cooks in our hotels, the kababwallas of Lucknow, the roomali rotiwallas, thc wasa who produce the wonderful was- wan of Kashmir, the little tumby in south India who cools your coffee by pouring it between two mugs held a yard away? Our government has decorated people of almost all professions but not the cook, sustainer of life. YOU may wonder why I have decided to quote so much from Larousse Gas- trononiique in an article for Parsiana. It is because I know that there are so many /)f my community and people all over India who are gourmand.s and gastro ­ nomes and have a high standard of liv ­ ing and thinking and appreciate good food from all over the world which, according to Brillat-Savarin, is one of the greatest of virtues attributed to man ­ kind. In today ’s world of strife, distrust, envy, jealousy, etc we can bring about a sense of peace, trust and harmony; an Here are “Greats. ” From Brillat-Savarin: Flour (150 g) Fresh yeast (20 g) Sugar (20 g) Eggs (3) Tepid milk (90 ml) Butter (60 g) Salt (a pinch) Loaf sugar (500 g) Water (250 ml) Rum (I/2 cup) Vanilla essence (I tsp) Salt (a pinch) In Europe, the fish used for Matelote are the eel, carp, tench, perch, etc. In India we can use ramas, bekti, grey mullet, rahu and eel. You can use only one type of fish, but it will not have the same flavor as when cooked with a variety. Mixed fish (1 kg — cut into 1 ” cubes) Onion (1 large — minced or finely chopped) Garlic (4 cloves — lightly crushed) Fresh mixed herbs (1 small bunch or 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs — oregano, thyme, basil) Red wine (20 ml) Brandy (3 tbsp) Beurre manie (butter — 45 g, flour — 2 tbsp, mixed to a paste) Salt and pepper (to taste) Chopped parsley for garnish Put fish in a stainless steel or ‘kallaied ’ pan. Add onion, herbs, garlic, wine, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Add flambeed brandy and simmer till fish is cooked. Transfer fish into another pan. Strain liquid and reduce by one third. Thicken withBeurremanie. Simmerfor l-2min- utes. Pour over fish and heat through. Thick cream (450 ml) Castor sugar (2-3 tbsp) Vanilla (2^3 drops) Grease a 7” savarin tin. Sift flour in a warm bowl. Cream yeast with I tsp sugar. Add beaten egg,s and milk. Pour Spoon into an earthenware dish if pos ­ sible. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with hot crusty bread. into Hour with yeast. Mix well and beat thoroughly for five minutes. Cover with a damp cloth or cling wrap and keep in a warm place till dough rises to double it.s size — for about 40 minutes. Cream butter and salt till soft. Beat into yeast mixture with remaining sugar and continue beating for a further five CHICKEN ROASTED WITH minutes. Pour into prepared tin and prove LEMON HALVES till mixture rise.s to the top of tin. It may take about 10-15 minutes. Bake in a Lemons (4 — not limes) preheated oven at 4()0°F (205°C) Garlic (4-6medium sized cloves, for about 20-30 minutes till well peeled — this is for India as browned. cloves To make the syrup dis- / ! smaller, else use 2) solve sugar in water and Jh / / J Italian parsley (15 boilstcadilyforfivemin- sprigs — leaves only) utes. Remove from fire. ^^Sc!!*^***^****^^ ^^ Hot red paprika flakes Add vanilla, rum and a pinch ' ~" .........tsp) salt. Salt and freshly ground pepper Remove cake gently from tin and Sprigs of Italian parsley for garnish place on a plate. While still warm baste thoroughly with warm syrup until the cake i.s soaked through. Whip cream with sugar until stiff. Giuliano Bugialli is one of the great chefs of Italy. He comes from Florence and is now settled in the USA. This recipe is from his book. Foods of Italy. Chicken (1— 2 kg) Lemons (4 are Clean chicken, removing any extra fat from the cavity. Open the chicken by cutting it lengthwise through the breast ­ bone, not the back. Place flattened bird 197 Parsiana February-March 1999in a large crockery or glass bowl. Squeeze with love great food for her family, lemons and pour juice over the chicken. Add lemon halves to the bowl. Chop garlic and parsley finely. Add chef Mohammed Imtiaz Quereshi, a to bowl with paprika, salt and pepper. Allow to marinate for one hour in a cool place or on the lower shelf of a refrigera ­ tor, turning it four times. Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer chicken to a baking dish, preferably of terracotta, pour marinade over it, arrange lemon halves on chicken and roast for 45 minutes, basting occa ­ sionally. Remove chicken from oven and serve immediately with a few sprigs of pars ­ ley. Heat ghee and add garlic and chillies. Add to dal and serve with paratha So now from our great and first master Dumpukht style. descendent ofthe chefs to the nawabs of PARATHA DUMPUKHT ----------------------------------------------------- Flour (500 g — sieved) Salt (1 tsp) Milk (2 tbsp) Rose water (2 drops) Sugar (F/2 tbsp) Ghee (200 g) Water (130 ml, approx) Add salt to flour in a thali (large flat tray). Add sugar to milk and dissolve in warm milk. Add rose water. Make a well in center of flour. Pour in milk and water. Stir in flour gradually. Knead well to make dough. Keep aside for 10 minutes, covered with a damp cloth. Add half the ghee to dough. Knead well to a soft dough consistency. Cover with damp cloth and leave aside for further 10 minutes. Roll dough into a large square. Melt remaining ghee and apply all over. Fold into three. Cover with damp cloth and chill for 10 minutes. Rol 1 out again into a large square. Cut “The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind ” Awadh. DAL QUERESHI Pigeon peas (arhar/toover/toor dal — 500 g) Mustard oil (20 ml) Hung curd.s (200 ml) Once a great chef (I cannot remember the name, but I think it was Escoffier) Turmeric powder (1 tbsp, heaped) was asked by a smug Frenchman, which three cuisines he considered the best in the world. The answer was, first Indian, second Chinese and third French. Indian cuisine is, according to me, supassable. Its diversity, mindboggling. India has many great cooks, known and unknown. Given here are recipes from some of them for this article. But I salute the housewife from all over the world who improvises and cooks Garlic (10 g — sliced) Red chillies (3 whole, dried) Cream (200 ml) Ghee (50 ml) Salt (to taste) Saute dal in mustard oil. Wash dal in water. Add three cups water, turmeric and salt and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer till dal is cooked. Add hung into rounds the size of a half plate, or if curd.s on high flame. Add cream and desired quarter plate. bring to boil again. Melt extra ghee on a griddle (tava). With best compliments from DIANA SOAP COMPANY Established 1914 Diana hand washing liquid soap ideal for clubs, hotels, restaurants and hospitals Sussex Road, Pallonji Compound Near Victoria Garden, Byculla Mumbai 400027 Phone (Res): 3747624 Phone (Off): 3723779, 3720863 Fax: 3720863 E-mail: diananet@bom5.vsni.net.in 198 Parsiana Febiuary-Maich 1999Fry parathas gently on both sides over groundnutsand sugar, mix well, garnish Oil (2 tbsp) slow fire. with coconut and coriander leaves and serve. The following recipe is from an excep ­ tionally good book Vegetable Delights written by the famous Malini Bisen. RIPE BANANA PEEL SABJI This is a rather unusual dish. Try it. Banana peel (12 ripe bananas) Ghee (1 dsp) Mustard seeds (14 tsp) Cumin seeds (14 tsp) Green chillies (4 — chopped) Ginger (1” piece — chopped) Turmeric powder (14 tsp) Dried mango powder (amchur — ’/z-1 tsp) Groundnuts (14 cup — coarsely ground) Salt (to taste) Garnish Coconut (2 tbsp — grated) Coriander leaves (4 tbsp — chopped) Wash peel and chop. Put ghee in a pan and place on fire. Heat ghee and add mustard and cumin seeds. When mus ­ tard seeds start spluttering add green chillies and ginger. Fry 1-2 minutes. Add turmeric powder and peel. Add salt and dried mango powder. Mix well, lower heat, cover pan and cook on a slow fire till tender. Remove lid, add 200 Parsiana February-March 1999 Salt Soak tamarind in one cup water for 15 minutes. Mash and sieve to extract tama- The next recipe is from a beautifully rind water. Discard residue. Add two brought out book Hyderabadi Cuisine cupswater, salt, turmeric, sesame seeds, written by Pratibha Karan. It is aTelegu green chillies and half the chopped mint, coriander and onion to the tamarind water. Mix well. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. When golden brown add tama ­ rind water. Bring to boil and add re ­ maining chopped ingredients. Simmer 2-3 minutes and remove from fire. Serve with khichdi. “The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner ” dish. PATCHI PULSU (Tamarind water with onions and greens) Tamarind (lOO g) Coriander leaves (I small bunch — chopped) Green chillies (6 — ground) Onion (I — medium sized, chopped) Mint (I small bunch — chopped) Sesame seeds (2 tbsp — dry, roasted) Curry leaves (20) Turmeric powder (Vi tsp) Cumin seeds (I tsp) With Compliments Of Manize Estd; 1959 Ladies Department Store JEUNESSE: Total beauty care and hair dressing Cumballa Hill Flyover, Bombay 400036 Telephones: Shop: 3877833, 3869855. Resi: 2151900 and Spin Weave Textiles Philco Industries HO: Piramal Mansion, 235, D. N. Road, Bombay 400001 Telephone: 2616781 Fax: 2611744 From the queen of cookery books in India, Vimla Patil, comes this recipe. VINDALOO Pork, mutton or jointed chicken (1 kg — cubed) Potatoes (5 small — peeled) Onions (2 large — finely chopped) Green chillies (3 — slit lengthwise) Sugar (1 tsp) Vinegar (4 tbsp) Cloves (2) Peppercorns (4 black) Green cardamoms (2) Oil (4 tbsp) Salt (to taste)~I POWERED BY CATERPILLAR _9 GREAV^ I ENGINES ' ---------------- O.E.M.------------------ 1 G. D. ANKLESARIA fr Co. | HEAD Off. & With Best Compliments From Post BoxNo. 1.RATLAM PHONES; 35109,36809 FAX: (07412) 33909 BRANCH OH, l,Ainbar,13/2 M.G.Road.lNDORE Pli.524981-rAGERNo.:9610-5249 12,Danudyog Industrial Estate. SILVASSA (DNH) WORKS: A Well-Wisher Grind to paste Cinnamon (2-cm piece) Cumin seeds (V2 tsp) Coriander seeds (1 tsp) Turmeric powder (1 tsp) Garlic (3 cloves) Ginger (3-cm piece) Red chillies (6) Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Fry pota ­ toes till brown and remove. Fry onions in the same oil. Add pork, mutton or chicken, cloves, peppercorn, carda ­ moms, green chillies, sugar and salt. Pressure cook till almost done. Open cooker, add potatoes and ground masala. Cook ti 11 meat and potatoes are soft. Add vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with Goan bread or rice. Note: Although Ms Patil has not men ­ tioned water in the dish, you will need to add water according to your pressure cooker to just cook the meat till done. Do not overload the dish with water, as it should have rich, thick, reddish brown gravy. Bon Appetit! I I Bhicoo J. Manekshaw, a graduate of the prestigious Cordon Bleu School of Cookery, London and author of Traditional Recipes of India anti Parsi Food and Customs, has been associated with many haute cuisine organi ­ zations in the country. I VADILAL INDUSTRIES LTD Forex and FFMC Division * * Celebrates 3rd Year Anniversary Offers specialised, efficient and prompt service in relation to: Forex Advisory and Exposure Management * FFMC Related Service (RBI authorised Money Changers) Complete Bullion Informative Service Complete Metal (LME) Base/Scrap Metal Informative Service For more details contact: Aspy Bharucha Vice President - Forex - FFMC Division VADILAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED Vadilal House, Shrimali Society, Near Navrangpura Railway Crossing, Ahmedabad 380009 (Tel: PBX): 6564018-4024 Direct Tel./Fax: 6564025-26-27 Baroda Office: Marble Arch, 3rd Floor, Opp Vanijya Bhavan, Alkapuri-Race Course Circle, Baroda 390005 (Tel./Fax: 330408/3300609) * 200b Parsiana February-March 1999I Statement of Ownership & Other Particulars about Parsiana: Form IV (See Rule 8) Place ot Publication: Bombay Periodicity of Publication: Ten issues in a year Printer, Publisher, Editor: Jehangir R. Patel Nationality: Indian Address: 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400007 Proprietor: Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, OBSERVATION Cross connections in Cyberspace 39, A. K. Nayak Marg, Bombay 400001 ) more Vinan one percen'i o ’i the total capital: Jehangir R. Patel, Veera J. Patel and Simin J. Patel, address same as above. ), Je!r>ar>gir R Palel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel) 1 March 1999 towns but they have easy access to their roots Piliao Muilan MATRIMONIAL Young, well-educated, Zoroastrian man, 37 years, working as a professional executive for a multinational Australian company, invites matrimonial correspondence from Zoroastrian girls willing to pursue life and career in the land of opportunity. Please submit recent color photograph and details (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/8-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. sively emancipated Parsi women who choose to marry non-Parsis or not marry at all ! All conclude that the Parsis are an endangered species with as much of a And then the nineties dawn. Time and technology collude to prove the doomsayers wrong ! The Internet arrives bringing with it instant connectivity across the globe. The gang awakens networking with a vengeance, making up for lost time, catching up on old Do you have a G6PD enzyme deficiency? The G6PD enzyme deficiency, common among the Parsis, makes them highly susceptible to certain drugs.* The deficiency may cause jaundice in the newborn and severe hemolytic crisis (destruction of red blood cells) in adults. Ask your family doctor to arrange for a blood test to detect whether you have G6PD enzyme deficiency. If you happen to be a G6PD-D patient, it is essential that you carry your card at all times so that in any emergency you would receive appropriate treatment. ‘Analgesics: Anetanilid, Acetylsalicylic acid, Asprin, Acetophenetidin (Phenacetin), Antipyrine, Pyramidone. Sulfonamides and Sulfones: Sulfanilamide, Sulfapyridine, N2 Acetylsulfanilamide, Sulfacetamide, Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), Thiazolsuldone, Salicylazosulfapyridine (Azulfadine), Sulfoxone, Sulfamethoxypyridine (Kynex). Antimalarials: Primaquine, Pamaquine, Pentaquine, Quinacrine (Atabrine). Nonsulfonamide antibacterial agents: Furazolidone, Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), Chloramphenicol. Para-aminosalicylic acid. Miscellaneous: Napthalene, Vitamin K (Water soluble analogues), Prodenecid, Trinitrotoluene, Methylene blue, Dimercaprol (BAL), Pheny ­ lhydrazine, Quinine and Quinidine; Sulpha containing compounds including Septran, DOS and Daraprim; Nitrodurantoin, Nalidixic acid including all derivatives of this group, Antistine, Diphenylhydramine, Pronestyl, Nitrites, Large doses of Chloroquine, Chloromycetin, Vit. C & K. Published in the public interest by Parsiana across the world. Collective memories of a shared childhood climax in the planning of a reunion. And, the gang is back in business. Bhindi has matured from cigarettes to cigars and, now on his third marriage It ’s 1966 in Calcutta. The Anglo-Indians have gone ‘back home. ’ The Beatles are all the rage. Radio Ceylon — poor cousin of MTV — crackles out a Jim Reeves favorite. Terylcne is in. And your parents future as the dinosaur, are about to buy the first family car — the ubiquitous Ambassador, available in any color, so long as it ’s black. At the Calcutta Parsee Club, a per ­ fectly healthy, normal, (read boisterous, high decibel) generation of baby boomer from two decades of stupor and starts Parsi.s is focusing its collective energies on the complex business of growing up. There goe.s Bhindi (Bhiwandiwala) friends and foes. And bingo — the sneaking off for a quick puff on the Calcutta Parsee Club is reborn in tennis court, even as Billy and Bapsey cyberspace. E-mail messages zig-zag disappear — yet again — into the dark shadow,s of the hedges. Nauzer ’s turn ­ ing back the hands of all the clocks to ensure that he can safely sneak home after midnight — his idea of a win-win solution, long before the Americans immortalize the concept in management (courtesy the Net) is wrestling with bring- theory. Khushrow and Hoshi prop each ing up a family comprising his, hers and other up, as hand in hand they sleepwalk their offspring. Bapsey and Billy ensure their way to the Anderson baths. And Kamal and Kersi, still high on winning theCalcuttaParsi Twist competition now assiduously practice the cha-cha. Come seventies and the great exodus begins. One by one, these young Parsis disappear into the blue beyond — some chasing their economic dreams in Iran, others their academic pursuits in the US of A. The less adventurous migrate to Bombay. Marriage, family, babies fol ­ low — not always in that order. The ties taper off. The bonds are broken. The Parsee Club gang becomes a dim memory. And with each passing year, the faithful elders shake their heads and Cyberspace. And for those doubting cluck with growing disapproval — “What will become of our Parsi coin (community)? ’’ Dismal numbers of a well and kicking — we suggest a quick dwindling population are bandied about — hard evidence that as a breed we are fast nearing extinction. Accusations and counter accusations fly at punchayet to askjeeves.com ) atFrenny@giasdl01. meetings. Many blame it on the exces- 202 Parsiana February-March 1999 that their respective children go nowhere near hedges. Nauzer reportedly has only digital clock-s at home. Khushrow and Hoshi are celebrating their si I ver wedding anniversaries jointly (some things just never change!). Exasperated, Kamal has long since dumped Kersi — he just couldn ’t get the hang of how to cha-cha! Thanks to the Internet, geography has become history and a whole genera ­ tion of Parsis can access their roots, trace their lineage, uphold their tradi ­ tions, seek partners, exchange jokes, recipes and spouses, and just generally reunite in their promised land in Tehmuls out there who still need em ­ pirical proof that Zoroastrianism is alive. tour of the most popular Zoroastrian sites on the Internet. For more informa ­ tion contact Frenny (the Farsi ’s answer '6 vsnl.net.inI cainera- READERS’ FORUM continued from page 28b •achieve consensus on the top 10 candi ­ dates worthy of recognition; •identify individuals within the commu ­ nity who could serve as screen-writers, •directors, producers, actors, men, etc; •identify individuals who can raise the necessary funds (my guess is US $ 100,000 per documentary film). Please contact: Jimmy D. Kumana, 5042 Autumn Forest Drive, Houston, ComC tO light Texas 77091, USA, phone (713) 957- 1125, fax 957-1128, e-mail: jkumana @aol.COm JIMMY D. KUMANA Hou.ston. USA Help trace her roots A lady by the name of Rose Koch from the state of Bremen, Germany, claims to Thy disciples are ready and now be the granddaughter of a Parsi gentle ­ man with following particulars: •Name: Dhunjishaw Ardeshir Painter •Parsi from Bombay and a British citizen •Went to China in 1900 along with Talati brothers •Married a Chinese, Lili Shih, renamed Mary Anne Painter •Died in China at the age of 62, on September 2, 1941. His son lives in Bremen, Germany. 204 Parsiana February-March 1999 with wife. His granddaughter Rose Koch is now very keen on tracing some Parsi descen ­ dants of D. A. Painter, if any, and wishes to get in touch with them. If any of your readers are connected with this family, I would appreciate if they could contact me at J-146 Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110044, tel 6941935 or 6948151. DILNAWAZ LAKOAWALA MAHAN'IT Here below is a poem composed by me in honorof ouiLord Spitama Zarathush ­ tra. O! SpilamaZarathushtra May Thy gloric.s unfold. O! Spirit of the Holy Manthra.s Come to light and behold. Awail the revelation of Thy words. With bated breath we gather together And await Thy clarion call Of “Peace on earth and death to the devil Light the fire of love in your heart — Be ever pure and do not leave the path. Through many centuries ye have followed This path shown to thy ancestors and Every flower is pretty but the arrangement is beautiful There is a moral to be learnt from a simple flower arrangement. Every rose, chrysanthemum and orchid is an identifiable and beautiful flower. And yet they blend harmoniously with each other to form a gorgeous arrangement or bouquet. To live together is really not so difficult. You don ’t have to give up your individuality and neither do you have to impose your will on another. When the blue print of an industrial India was being drawn, a great man, J.N. Tata, wrote to his sons. “Be sure to lay wide streets planted with shady trees, every other of a quick growing variety. Be sure that there is plenty of space for lawns and gardens. Reserve large areas for football, hockey and parks. Earmark areas for Hindu temples, Mohammedan mosques and Christian churches. " This was his dream in 1902. We can live it and our India will be as beautiful as any flower arrangement. ENTERPRISES Surviving so many many disasters. You have carried the message of the Gathas Divine, Remember always — lam yours and you are Mine. “Let not hearsay, nor fear, nor misguided modernity Ever lead you astray my children. My spirit is there ever for you. To seek and invoke it — it will lead the way To the highest land of bliss and joy; Where awaits for thee the life eternal; For where lam — you are — and always will be For now and for all eternity ’’ GOOLOO R. MEHTA Donate to Salsette This is a fervent appeal to all our Zarthoshti community members, Zoro ­ astrian trusts and other charitable orga ­ nizations, to donate their mite towards the construction of a dadgah and com ­ munity hall at the Salsette Parsis Asso ­ ciation Complex, Andheri (East). This dadgah and community hall will be of immense spiritual and social value to our community. We, the trustees, take this opportunity to request one and all to contribute generously towards the main-tenance of the dadgah and the kathi funds. Full-time priests will be appointed to hold various religious ceremonies. We sincerely hope that you will help us in achieving our goal. Donations may be sent to Ms J. D. Moos (Hon secretary/ trustee, 1, Gool Dhun Abad, S. V. Road, Jogeshwari, Bombay 400102), for which an official receipt will be issued. Cheques doctor has been appointed to operate the Caves and to bring the monument back are to be drawn in favor of “Salsette cliikitshalaya on a daily basis. to life. Visitors to Bordi have shown a Parsis Association Corpus Account. ” J. D. MOOS number of guests we can accommodate is 15. In case of groups the figure can be stretched to 18-20. In fact just outside our Retreat we about Bahrot Caves. One of the projects our Trust has on its agenda is to resus- terment, environmental concerns and such other national objectives which will take the country on a forward march into the next millennium. In our Bordi premises we have set up have already popularized information a chikitshalaya (dispensary) with facili ­ ties for medical check-up and dispens ­ ing of medicines. A regular qualified citate the ancient precincts of Bahrot cliikitshalaya on a daily basis. Weare working closely with the tribal keen interest to visit the site. We are ashramshala at village Aswali and have identified the need for text/work books Tasks before Tapovan required by the students and also play- Since the last two years we have been ground equipment for healthy develop- working in the tribal belt at the foot of Bahrot Hill. We are involved through the Tapovan Vihar Cultural Trust set up by me in developmental activities cov ­ ering the surrounding tribal belt of Dahanu Taluka. As members of The Indian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) for Development, Environment facing and Population we are working for the eradication of poverty and welfare of people through programs of literacy, education, advancement of health, fam ­ ily planning, equality of women and well being of children, income genera ­ tion, gainful employment, village bet- working on the ‘modus operandi ’ of having some local Adivasi guides who can escort visitors in groups to the Caves. As of date, it is a good uphill trek in the midst of beautiful flora and fauna. To date we have generated through donations and Retreat Camps a sum of Rs 93,150. Our total requirement of funds ment of the body and mind. We are also surveying specific needs of the various zilla parishad schools located in the area. As a NGO we have a lot of field work to do. The existing cluster of villages for capital expenditure would be Rs which we cover are spread within a radius of 10-1.5 km around Bordi. Trans ­ portation is the biggest handicap we are 98,700. Our monthly recurring expen ­ diture on the Trust activities is to the tune of Rs 12,000. We still have a long way to go. All donations therefore would be welcome and can be sent to Tapovan Vihar Cultural Trust, Tapovan Retreat, Bordi, Tai Dahanu 401701. HOMI D. MEHTA Trustee, Tapovan Vihar Cultural Trust Our Trust also runs the Tapovan Re ­ treat at Bordi. We let out the place to families/groups who wish to spend time together, relax and have some brain ­ storming or even general camaraderie. The Retreat is well-equipped and offers boarding and lodging. The maximum Edited by Parinaz M. Gandhi MAGNUM ARMS Railway Hotel Building, R. M. Roy Road Off Grant Road, Bombay 400004 Tel: 3895855 (12 to 6), 3852035 206 Parsiana February-March 1999BOOKS Adept at adapting Lovji Cama The Death of Ahriman: Culture, Identity and she infers that they were primarily mer- Theological Change among The Parsis of chants, ignoring the fact that Hormuz India by Susan Stiles Maneck. A PhD disser ­ tation published by the Graduate College, University of Arizona, USA. Pp: 272. was the regular point of departure for India for anyone who wanted to do so. But even if they were primarily mer ­ chants, why would that preclude them from fleeing religious persecution in Iran? Why could not their purpose have been to save the religion, as the Kisseh- i Sanjaii says? After all, she does not deny that the leader ofthe band of immi- grant.s was a dastur and not some mer ­ chant king. In the latter part of this chapter the author argues that the immigrants ex- in terms that made Zoroastrianism ap ­ pear similar to Hinduism. I am certain priests with regard to acceptance of non- Zoroastrians into the religion (permis ­ sible after proper ritual purification) seemed to be based on their understand ­ 'g disputes within the Parsi community, which requested outside mediation. ” This would imply that the Parsis were involved in some very curious behavior. Would they spend considerable time, money and effort to get an authoritative This book propounds the theory that the from fleeing religious persecution in ruling from Iran and then ignore it? The Parsis continually redefined themselves Iran? Why could not their purpose have answer in this case lies with DasturFiroze under the influence of their rulers in been to save the religion, as the Kisseh- Kotwal ’s opinion (pg 35): “The Indian India: first the Hindus, then the Muslims i Sanjaii says? After all, she does not dasturs were asking questions of their and finally the Christians. Well re- deny that the leader ofthe band of immi- Iranian counterparts in order to increase searched, the collection of over 150 pri- grant.s was a dastur and not some mer- their knowledge and learn other points mary and secondary references in the chant king. of view. This is not to imply that the book, dealing mostly with the history of In the latter part of this chapter the Indian dasturs were ignorant and asking the Parsis, is itself of value to anyone author argues that the immigrants ex- tor advice. Rather it was an exchange of interested in Parsi history. Yet despite plained their religion to the Hindu ruler knowledge. ” the considerable scholarship, the work in terms that made Zoroastrianism ap- The positive answer of the Iranian does not quite ring true to this Parsi reader. The author seems to have plowed this must have happened. It would have through the references, decided on a central thesis and then propounded it while disregarding many of the facts and ideas that did not agree with the thesis. Of the eight chapters of the book, the first is an introduction which includes a review of similar works by other au ­ thors, a short essay on Zoroastrianism, followed by an outline of the chapters to follow. The remaining chapters deal with Parsi history from the time of their ar ­ rival in India to the 19th century, during which they rapidly became westernized. Chapter two deals with the Parsi mi ­ gration from Iran to India, their first settlements and early history up to the 14th century. Maneck accepts the tradi ­ tional eighth century date for their first landing, while many scholars now ac ­ cept a later date in the 10th century. She begins with an assertion that the Parsis came to India primarily because busi ­ ness conditions in Iran were not suitable under Arab rule, and not because of religious persecution. Choosing the early author asserts that the growing prosper- date for migration makes it easier for her to affirm this, since she contends that insufficient time had elapsed since the Arab conquest for the Iranian Zoroastri ­ ans to have suffered religious persecu ­ tion (Zoroastrians were still a majority in Iran until about the early part of the 10th century). And because they em ­ barked for India from the port of Hormuz, been foolhardy for this band looking for a home to point out the differences and risk being turned away . This really points ing of the religion rather than the current to the desperate situation ofthe Parsis at practice (of not permitting them because their lime of arrival. ofthe ruling ofthe Muslim authorities in In concluding this chapter the author Iran). The response of the Indian priests states that “theology played no role in forming their corporate identity within the Indian milieu. Instead, Parsis de ­ fined themselves by what they did, not by what they believed. ” While this state ­ ment is possibly true in that the early Parsis may have been reticent about their beliefs and ethics in their new en ­ vironment, it should not be understood that they had given them up. The very fact that they were able to consecrate the Iranshah fire within a short time of their arrival speaks well of their religious zeal. Chapter four discusses the growing prosperity of the Parsi community from Maneck and Modi Kuverji Nanabhoy. the 14th to the 17th century as they involved themselves in trade. This is also the period ofthe early Rivayets. The was to discourage acceptance (because of the social conditions in India). But certainly some acceptance of the ser ­ vants of Parsis and of Parsi illegitimate children was carried out, quietly. The remaining part of the chapter discusses the rise of the Bhagaria priests under their high priest Meherji Rana; the decrease in power of the family of Changa Asa, a rich and powerful trader; the relocation of the Iranshah fire to Udvada from Navsari; the creation of the Navsari Atash Behram; the rise of Surat as the major port city on the west coast; and the growing power of Rustam Chapter five deals with the presence of Parsi priests at Akbar ’s court. In order to establish his kingship over a diverse empire composed of various religious groups of which the Muslims were a minority, Akbar had to establish rapport with all his subjects. Traditional Islam which required power to be only in the hands of Muslims was not suited to his purpose. So Akbar adopted the ancient OUS laity became dissatisfied with deci ­ sions made by Parsi priests, and asked the Iranian priests via the Rivayats for their opinion. Here she makes a rather puzzling statement (pg 42): “The opin ­ ion of the Iranian dasturs were seen as authoritative whether or not the Parsis religious and political symbolism of Per- abided by them. Requests for rulings sia as a model for his kingship and it was were therefore generally motivated by this, according to the author, that al- 208 Parsiana February-March 1999 lowed Zoroastrian priests to wield influ ­ ence in court and not their knowledge or expertise in debate against other reli ­ gious leaders. This chapter also deals with the influ ­ ence of Ishraqi philosophy in Akbar ’s court, especially through Abul-Fazl, one of his favorite ministers. Ishraqi phi ­ losophy allowed for the legitimacy of all religions and thus cut into the influence the Europeans, which include Parsi flex- of traditional Islamic ideas. According ibility and their involvement both in the to the author, Meherji Rana learned to areas of manufacture and brokerage, converse in terms of Ishraqi philosophy which gave them very good control, so that he could be more influential. “ Two Zoroastrian books of question ­ able religious content, the Dabistan and Desatir, are also introduced in this chap ­ ter. The author of Dabistan seems to have been influenced by Ishraqi phi ­ losophy, especially the version espoused their religious problems. But since the by Azar Kavan (an Iranian, perhaps a Zoroastrian). Maneck then stretches the argument that “if the Dabistan correctly represented the teachings presented by the Parsis in Akbar ’s court, it would seem that the dasturs accepted the teach ­ ings associated with Zurvanism. ” The overall conclusion of this chap ­ ter is that once again the Parsis, this time at Akbar ’s court, defined their religion in terms of the dominant one (Islam). In this instance the dualism of Zoroastrian- ism was suppressed by reviving Zurva- nistic ideas, in order to make the religion removed from the temple during reno- appear monotheistic. vation, but the author actually harbors Chapter five also describes the rising the possibility that Du-Peron was con- prosperity of Parsis in Suraland, in great detail, the life of Rustam Maneck and his dealings with British, Portuguese She thinks it might be possible because and Dutch East India companies. Rea ­ sons are given for successful trade with Dastur Kumana was educated by Ira ­ nian priests who believed in conversion. In chapter seven we read of the growth of Bombay as a Parsi center and the formation of the Parsi Punchayet. Its power to regulate the affairs of the lay The Kadmi-Shahenshahi calendar and priestly communities, and the de ­ dispute is discussed in chapter six. In clineofthatpowercausedbyanincreas- this controversy Maneck again sees the Parsis seeking guidance from Iranian priests and Muslim scholars as an indi ­ cation that they looked to others to solve discussed. Chapter eight deals with the contro ­ versy and battles over the conversion of three Parsi boys who attended the En ­ glish school run by the Scottish Presby ­ terian missionary. Dr John Wilson. The source of this particular problem was Iran, it does not seem unnatural to look to Iran for answers. Another part of thi.s chapter gives an account of Anquetil Du-Peron ’s visit Parsicommunity ’sresponseiswelldocu- and his dealings with the Kadmi priests mented. However, in an analysis of the DasturDarab Kumana and DasturMulla response by Dastur Edul Sanjana, high Kaus, who taught Du-Peron the Avesta priest of the Shahenshahis, the author and provided him with Avestan manu ­ scripts. There is also the account of a visit to a fire-temple, escorted by Dastur Sanjana refers to God as the creator of Kumana. The account is most likely a continued on page 218 fabrication, or a visit when the fire was verted to Zoroastrianism by Dastur Kumana before his visit to the temple. ing difference of opinion between its older conservative members and the younger western educated members is shows her unfamiliarity with the Zoro ­ astrian religion. On page 214 Dastur With Best Compliments From PENOSH 94-A, M. G. Road, Pune 411001 Telephone 645162-64 Fax 645166 211 Parsiana February-March 1999BOOKS 4^ So noble and yet so simple 59 Nawaz Mody Dadabhai keenly followed the situation. He led three deputations to the Shah of Naoroji The first Asian MP - A Biography of Particularly interesting in this context is Dadabhai Naorojf. India ’s Patriot and Britain ’s the data he provides on the treatment MP by Omar Ralph. Published in 1997 by meted out to Parsis like Dhanjibhoy Iran when he visited England in 1885, Hansib Caribbean, PO Box 2773, St John ’s, Naoroji and George Eduiji, who had 1901 and 1906. His pleading for fair Antigua, Wisconsin, USA. Price: £ 11.95. Pp: converted to Christianity and settled in treatment met with a positive response. 208. England. Indeed the two Zarthosty brothers Naoroji and George Eduiji, who had converted to Christianity and settled in England. The second chapter traces Dadabhai ’s (Mehraban and Faredoon), who have role in the first political associations in India —including the Bombay Associa ­ tion in 1852. Dadabhai ’s faith in the British sense of fair play and justice Dadabhai for Zoroastrians in Iran which remained with him throughout his life. So far the only authentic biography of Dadabhai Naoroji ha.s been Rustom P. Masani ’s volume entitled Dadabhai Naoroji: The Grand Old Man of India, which was first published in 1939. Omar Ralph ’s present volume attempts to “re ­ live the life story of Dadabhai, so that the work done by him in laying the foundation of modern India can be un ­ derstood, appreciated and remembered both in India and in Britain. ” Ralph, who has a Parsi mother, has been conducting research on the Parsis and Zoroastrianism for some time now. He had earlier co-authored in 1995, with Dr John R. Hinnells, a brochure on an ­ other Parsi member of the British Parlia ­ ment, Mancherjee M. Bhownaggree. Given his personal background Ralph aims at attempting through his research to look at the connection between the Zoroastrians and the Jews over the years. While tracing the story of Dadabhai Naoroji from his birth on September 4, 1825 in Mandvi, one of the seven origi ­ nal islets ofthe city of Bombay, in the chapter on “His Roots, ” Ralph focuses on his early education, his elevation to professor of mathematics and natural Nassarwanji Cama, he began to bring philosophy in 1853, which was the first professorship ever held by any Indian. Till the end, Dadabhai felt proud of that distinction, stating, “Several honors came to me during my lifetime, but no other title created in me that sense of pride which I felt in being known as a Darpan. Dadabhai retained his interest professor. ” He also traces his involve- and faith in the vernacular Press in India ment in promoting education for women throughout his life, through the Students Literary and Sci ­ entific Society and the Parsi Girls School Association which went on to establish a number of schools for women after 1849. While drawing considerably from Masani ’s volume, Ralph also attempts to look at this period from the perspec ­ tive of records available in England. donated so generously to numerous Parsi causes in India of late, acknowledge their debt to the work of Hataria and IL V -Ms - V • 'N The first Asian MPj enabled them to survive and later to prosper. Deeply conscious of his reason for coming to Britain, Dadabhai took up his task of educating the British about their fellow subjects in India — including the Parsis. A major issue which he was to focus on was that of facilitating the entry of Indians into the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Ralph informs us that Rustomji Hiribhai Wadia was the first Indian stu ­ dent to take the ‘open ’ ICS examination with the assistance of Dadabhai. The other Indian whom Dadabhai assisted was Mancherji Colah who was later to hold the post of assistant surgeon. One of his most significant activities then was to found, with Mancherjee Hormasjee Cama, the London Zoroas ­ trian Association in 1861. He remained its president from 1862 to 1908. This later became, the present Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (Incorporated) Under the sponsorship of Khurshedji (ZTFE). Dadabhai ’s stay in England led to his neglect of his wife and family. He re ­ turned to India and brought back his wife, son Ardeshir, daughter Shirin and his mother who stayed at Parsi Lodge in North London in 1865. Serene Cursetjee, daughter of Manockjee Cursetjee (founder of the Alexandra Native Girls ’ English Institution), was a close com ­ panion of the family. The author quotes from Serene Cursetjee ’s diaries but un- A Biography of Dadabhai Naoroji India ’s Patriot and Britain ’s MP 1 out a fortnightly newspaper, RastGoftar (Truth Teller), the first issue of which came out on November 15, 1851. The first few issues dealt with Parsi-Muslim riots which had erupted owing to an ill- conceived article in Chitra Dnyati Pre-eminent among the issues taken up by Dadabhai during this period were fortunately does not acknowledge that the problems faced by the Zoroastrians who had remained behind in Persia. These included the levy of poll tax, inability to trade and lack of educational facilities. The Parsis in India had de ­ puted Manekji Limji Hataria to Iran as their delegate to study the situation. he has in fact used Masani ’s book, rather than the original diaries which are no longer available for reference. Dadabhai ’s own business company prospered as did his reputation, honesty and integrity. He was also influenced by Englishmen like John Dickinson (1815- 212 Parsiana February-March 1999tially served the needs of the British 1876), Major Evans Bell and John Bright, MP (1811-1889) who molded Empire to the grave detriment of her his ideas on reform. These three gentle ­ men had similar arguments on the im ­ poverishment of India, which along with issues like exams for the ICS and inde ­ pendence for native states became the day. The publication also brought him major issues of Dadabhai ’s campaign. Later, to bring Indian problems to the attention of the British public, Dadabhai established the London Indian Society in 1865 and the East India Association in 1866. He drew attention to India ’s problems in his paper on England ’s du ­ ties to India. Ancillary organizations were also established in India, including the Bombay Association and the Ratepayers Committee. Soon Dadabhai ’s ideas on un-British policies in India began to crystallize while making a deep study of the economy and wants of the country, which for him were: sufficient food, clothing and shelter and sufficient savings. Dadabhai conceived of the ‘Drain Theory ’ as an external drain built into the internal economy with a bias whereby the ruling power was able to extract resources out of a colonial economy. India, being a colonial economy, essen- own interests. In 190l,Dadabhaipublishedhis/ ’6>v- erty and un-British Rule in India which including the Liberal Party, the Irish remains a referred publication even to- into contact with Henry Mayers Hynd ­ man, founder of the Social Democratic Foundation, who was to remain his friend for life. In 1881, Dadabhai returned to India Lord Salisbury, the Prime Minister call- after closing down business and began to take an active role in politics. He, along with Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dinshaw Vatcha and others played a leading role in the estab ­ lishment of the Indian National Con- gres.s whose first meeting was held on Bhownaggree, Kier Hardie and Florence December 28, 1885 in Bombay. Dada ­ bhai spoke on the need for political reform in India, the impact of the drain by only three votes (2,959 to 2,956) on the Indian economy and the entry which gave Dadabhai the nickname “nar- of Indians into the ICS. This was the first major national political associa ­ tion established by the “educated na ­ tives. ” The discussion on Dadabhai stand ­ ing for election to the House of Com ­ mons began soon after thi.s and, as Ralph With Best Compliments From MADAM’S WINE STORES Burdwan Road, Siliguri 734401 I 214 Parsiana February-March 1999 points out, Dadabhai ’s diary entries in 1886 in England show his attempts to develop links with people from all walks of life. He approached various groups Home Rule Movement and even the Conservatives in his choice of a seat. Ultimately, with the support of the Lib ­ erals, Dadabhai contested the election from Central Finsbury in 1892. The campaign was a heated one with ing Dadabhai “a black man, ” seeking to give a racial color to the campaign. This smear campaign did not work and Dadabhai ’s campaign gained support from various sections including the Gaekwad of Baroda, Behramji Malabari, Nightingale among others. Dadabhai defeated his rival Captain F. T. Penton row majority. ” His tenure in Parliament was very eventful and Ralph has documented this extensively in his chapter on “Parliament ’s Business ” as well as in Appendices 2, 3 and 4. As will be seen, Dadabhai ’s contribution to various is- his1 it would have been much more authentic had Ralph used proper footnotes and citations, particularly since he has relied so much on Masani ’s biography of Dadabhai. Ralph has also had the privi ­ lege of consulting so much material in England and it would greatly assist re ­ searchers to have the citations which will aid them in their research. As pointed out to me by Ralph he has not been able to come down to India and use the exten ­ sive material and letters available here on Dadabhai — perhaps he can prepare a second volume on this. The book serves the purpose of gen ­ erating interest in Dadabhai among the younger generation of readers in En ­ gland and India. However, the high price of £ 11.95 for the paperback edition will “A lot of people are not aware...' Knowing a Jewish rabbi who wonders if there ’ll be Jewish grandchildren in the years to come, Omar Ralph smiles. “Every generation worries but (the communities) are still there, ” says the offspring of a Parsi Zarathushti mother and a Scottish father. They named him Omar “because they wan ­ ted an Asian name that was easy to pronounce. ” Working in the area of race equality in the London bo-rough of Isling-ton that had twice sponsored Dadabhai Nao- >? gress wa.s retained. This stand however was totally rejected by Indian revolu ­ tionaries in London like Shyamji Krishna Verma and Veer Savarkar in various issues of The Indian Sociologist. Dadabhai deprecated violence, but un ­ like the other older leaders he did not denounce the younger leaders. His links with Madame Cama are well-known. He was present at the opening of Verma ’s ‘India House ’ and was close to other revolutionary leaders too. In 1916, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Law by deter Indian readers. '• the University of Bombay. Though it F was also decided to award it to Mehta, he died in 1915 before it could be conferred on him. b Truly, as stated " Narayenrao Chanda- varkar, Dadabhai ’.s ¦ life was all that the “prophet Zoroaster ’s religion personified — because he was the man more than any- '?J ¦ \s 4^5 ft ' I t» ¦'!; >, •• Jj ” "•wofc. IK» sues affecting Indian interests proved conciliatory and the unity of the Con- crucial in furthering Indian interests. His term in the House was short — it ended in July 1895. However he contin ­ ued to work in the Royal Commission and for the interests of the members of his constituency. Among Dadabhai ’ s subsequent cam ­ paigns were issues focusing on the hard ­ ship of Indians in South Africa, voting rights for women, the race question and drawing attention to the suffering of Indi ­ ans through recurring ¦' famines. Interest- ¦ ingly, Dadabhai was I shrewd enough to re- | alize that the moder- I ate means used by | older leaders of the I Congress had increas- I ingly distanced them I from the younger gen- I eration of Indians. He 3 was much admired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the young Ma ­ hatma Gandhi. Dadabhai ’s links with Socialist leaders like Hardie and A. sketch of Naoroji made Hyndman led to his when he was 20 attending the Second International Socialist Congress at body else of pure thought, of pure speech roji to the British Parliament, Ralph refers Amsteidam in 1904. He created a stir and ot pure deeds. to the “dramatic change ” in the compo- when he announced his support to the Ralphalso traces the legacy of Dada- sition of London ’s population since j"jikingclassesinlndiaand wasstrongly bhai who became the first Asian Mem- Naoroji ’s time. According to him racial _ -v.itical of British policy there. her ot Parliament and its impact on tu- minorities now account for 25-30 percent with over 30 non-white members of the British Parliament, though so far no colored Britisher forms a part of UK’s representation at the European Parlia ­ ment in Bruxelles. With some Zoroas ­ trian members of the local councils and a mayor to date, “there ’ll always be room ” for them in British politics, feels and of pure deeds? ’ Ralph also traces the legacy of Dada ­ bhai who became the first Asian Mem ­ ber of Parliament and its impact on fu ­ ture Asian representatives. He describes him aptly as; “The underdog beat the ter.... ” Humanity in Dadabhai tran ­ scended the inhumanity of the system. He became the first Indian ambassador to England. Ralph laments the fact that though Gandhiji is well-known in present day Ralph. Though the Commission for Racial Equality is not a campaigning body, its Significantly, Madame Bhikhaiji Cama too attended the Third Interna ­ tional Socialist Congress in 1907 and bully without tainting his own charac- launched India ’s first flag of indepen ­ dence. There she was much more criti ­ cal of British rule than Dadabhai. The 1905 session ofthe Congress led to major differences between the ‘mod ­ erates ’ led by Mehta and the ‘extrem ­ ists ’ led by Tilak. The British decision to England, the Grand Old Man of the 19th divide Bengal had serious ramifications century is unknown in Britain. Even _ •which nurtured a new generation of Gandhiji drew great inspiration from policy regarding black and Asian armed revolutionaries who wanted to him and desciibed his hie as so noble businessmen ensures them support in oveithrow British rule by foice. A.s a and yet so simple . their work with local agencies. The aim, compromise Dadabhai was invited from Ralph ’s book, written in a racy style, says Ralph, is to prevent racial violence, England to be the president of the Con- is relevant and readable. In fact I was “give help when someone is suffering j^rcss in 1906. very fortunate to locate through the good harassment, let the victims know they Dadabhai had a clear grip of the situ- offices of ZTFE’s Rusi Dalal, Malcolm are not alone, ” provide moral support in ation and in his presidential addiess Deboo and Ralph the recording of an action “Racial violence has always spoke of swaraj (self-government) for interview with Dadabhai ’sgranddaugh- __ iPs manifestation of tVie 'iirs'i time. It was Vie and not Tiiak ter Gosiii Captain wiiich proved invalu- racism ” who used the term first. His speech was able for my ongoing research. However, Schooled in London and with a BSc him and described his life as “so noble and yet so simple ”. Ralph ’s book, written in a racy style, is relevant and readable. In fact I was very fortunate to locate through the good offices of ZTFE’s Rusi Dalal, Malcolm Deboo and Ralph the recording of an interview with Dadabhai ’s granddaugh ­ ter Gosh) Captain which proved invalu ­ able for my ongoing research. However, 217 Parsiana February-March 1999in psychology from the University of ADEPT AT ADAPTING Southamptom under his belt, Ralph continued from page 211 began work on Dadabhai Naoroji ’s biography in 1990. Reveren ­ tial toward the “grandfather of India and Pakis ­ tan, ” Ralph was transfixed by the charismatic Na- oroji who cor ­ responded with Mahatma Gan- Ralph: preserve dhi on a weekly heritage basis, employed photo: Arnavaz Mama A considerable part of this chapter is Mohammedali a discussion of Wilson ’shook The Parsi Jinnah as his personal assistant and lived Religion: Ai' Contained in the Zand by the creed of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. It was hard for Ralph to stomach the fact that there is “a whole generation of Asians who don ’t know about him... A lot of people are not aware of their heritage, religion, philosophy, ” he notes sadly adding (in the context of the second World Zoroastrian Youth Congress during which this brief interview was conducted), “If you give up your good ideas of the Enlightenment as terms of customs, you better have something to replace them... ” Amavaz s. Mama both worlds (the spiritual and the mate ­ rial). The author understands this to mean the worlds of good and evil and goes on to show how Sanjana ’s description of divinity is a Muslim definition of God, thus harking back to her central argu ­ ment that Parsis define themselves in terms of the dominant religion (in this case a hangover of Muslim domination over Gujarat). Later on she again inter ­ prets the world “qibleh ” as used by of the content of their faith, that might Sanjana (the kebla ofthe fire-temple) as a Muslim derivative. have distinguished it from the religions surrounding it. The author does not understand the Parsi psyche. She misunderstands their willingness to adapt to the dominant cul- Avesta and Propounded and Defended ture as a willingness to give up their b\' the Zoroastrians of India and Persia, Unfolded, Refuted and Contrasted with Christianity. The title speaks for itself, a blatant attempt to denigrate Zoroastri ­ anism and show the superiority of Chris ­ tianity in the hope of converting Parsis. The effect of all these attacks forced the Parsis to understand their religion in western terms, and they looked to the reference. Surprisingly, the author does not mention anywhere the new interest y Ps jio into thc making ol a hraiul. Wc ’II take care of one of them. Good packaging is vital for the growth of a brand. At Ecoplast, the accent is on delivering packaging solutions that make winners of brands. w W' For leading manufacturers of fast moving consumer goods and perishables, Ecoplast ’s accent on quality has meant a distinct, tangible advantage in the marketplace. I In the area of flexible packaging, Ecoplast ’s . I strengths lie in the production of multilayer I films made by the blown film co-extrusion I process. I To know how your brand could benefit from I Ecoplast ’s expertise, do get in touch with us at the address given below. We ’d be happy I to expose you to packaging possibilities for your brand. in Ecoplast Ltd. Packaging Solutions 4, Magan Mahal, 2nd Floor, 215, Sir M.V. Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai - 400 069. Tel.: 832 5364 / 834 1403. Fax : 836 6384. E-mail: ecoplast@bom3.vsnl.net.in 218 Parsiana February-March 1999 in the study of the Gathas both by west ­ ern and Parsi scholars. These studies showed that many of the ideas in the Gathas were not very different from Enlightenment ideas and that was the reason for their acceptance. Finally, the author makes one more effort to show how the Parsis, by defin ­ ing their religion in terms of the domi ­ nant religion, first Hinduism, then Islam and finally Christianity (or rather the Enlightenment) had compromised much religious beliefs. But the Parsis never gave up the teachings of their religion, which is a code of behavior, they never gave up on upholding the truth, fighting injustice, doing charity and using their Good Mind to work for the good of soci ­ ety both their own and that surrounding it. These are the teachings of the Prophet passed on from generation to generation by example, and they go to make up the Parsi psyche. In the end the author has missed the point of what it is all about.MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged be ­ tween 19 and 34 years, the arith ­ metic mean (the total number of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 25 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 24 and 35 years, averaging at 28 years. Compared to 13 babies born in the first month of 1999, there were 81 Zoroastrians who died in Bombay. Thirty-two victims succumbed to heart disease of whom 18 were 80 years and above. Lung disease/pneumonia took a toll of nine lives and can ­ cer of eight. Septicemia claimed four people and diabetes, gen ­ eral debility/old age, brain dis ­ ease, bronchitis and hyperten ­ sion felled three patients each. Two deaths each were accounted to asthma and uremia. There were 11 isolated cases registered for January. They were; death due to head injury, tuberculosis, liver disease, emphysema (gaseous distension of the tissues), intesti ­ nal obstruction, marasmus (wast ­ ing away of the body without apparent cause) due to motor neuron disease, Parkinson ’s dis ­ ease, neurological disorder, ma ­ laria, hypertrophy (increase in the size of tissues or structures, independent of natural growth) and kidney failure . The yonng- BANGALORE DIED Bacchi Adi Patel of Jabalpur, mother of Freny P. Bharda and Behram on January 7, 1999 BOMBAY BORN A girl, Taronish, to Sanober and Cowas Bajan; August 6, 1998 A girl to Rashna and Homiyar Dhamodiwala; January 3, 1999 A girl to Jinoo and Sarosh Daruwalla; January 6 A boy to Nilufer and Pervaz Boocha; January 7 A girl to Mithra and Mahyar Engineer; January 11 A girl to Simone and Farokh Pandole; January 14 A boy to Shanaz and Farokh Commissariat; January 19 A girl to Benaifer and Dinyar Dastoor, January 19 A boy to Daisy and Adil Jesia; January 19 A boy to Kashmira and Shapoor Khodadadi; January 21 220 Parsiana February-March 1999 est to die was a 46-year-old as compared to the eldest, a 99- year-old. The Zoroastrian life ex ­ pectancy at birth for January, in Bombay, was 76 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by variou.s 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 anju ­ mans do not furnish the particu ­ lars; the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by four hospitals — births in suburban hospitals and private nursing homes arc not included unless individuals send us information together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent 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 eld ­ erly, death is often due to a com ­ bination ofseveral diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they wou 1 d 1 i ke published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this re ­ quirement and cooperate with us. A boy to Soonnu and Farokh Balsara; January 27 A boy to Binaiferr and Sanjay Kholi; January 27 A boy to Anna and Neville Choksi; January 28 A girl. Huffish, to Shirin and Neville Laeca; January 30 MARRIED Azmi Erach Singpurwalla and Mehernosh Manek Baliwala; December 7, 1998 Dinaz Behram Bhalhena and Yazad Gaev Saher; December 20 Meher Hosi Carnac and Cyrus Aspi Nariman; December 24 Farzana Yazdi Kohiar and Rusliad Noshir Anklesaria; December 25 Zenobia Dara Panthakee of Ontario and Pervez Jimmy Mistry of Ontario; December 25 Kaynaaz Farrokh Desai and Neville Khushroo Dholoo; December 28 Parizad Hosang Suntoke and Farzad Darayus Mithaiwallu; December 28 Rukzane Pervez Hiramanek and Kurush Dhunjishaw Bhumgara; December 31 Niloufer Pervaz Mullan and Farzad Phiroz Limki; December 31 Monaz. Fcroz Tara/wrewala and Farzad Minoo Antia; January 2, 1999 Khushnuma Manek Engineer and Porus Dhunjishaw Suntoke; January 3 Susan Ruintan Dastyar of Chatsworth, California and Farzad Rustom Hormuzdi of New York; January 4 Dilnavaz Cyrus Bharucha of Poona and Mehernosh Adi Pavri; January 4 Ruzvin Adil Elavia and Farookh Jamshed Elavia; January 7 Monaz Dinyar Gazdar and Jamshed Homi Maloo; January 7 Zarin Noshir Fatakia and HoshedarDara Pochara; January 7 Farzin Minoo Bharucha and Sarosh Dinyar Daruwala; January 8 Nina Fall Todiwala and Paitizad Kersy Driver; January 8 Anita Pervez Dubash and Hector Fcdi Patel, 9 Binyfer Kersi Engineer and Nozer Noshir Patel; January 9 Anahita Farokh Bhathena and Firdoush Phiroze Bhathena; January 10 Anahita Rashid Irani and Percy Jamshed Irani; January 10 Dilnavaz Russi Parelvala and Bahadur Cyrus Kaikobadi; January 10 Mahtah Darayus Mowdawala and Cawas Kobad Panthaki; January 10 Khursheed Hoshang Buchia and Barjor Mehernosh Dastur; January 11 Natasha Aspi Kavarana and Honoze Hoshang Nekoo; January 11 Ketayun Adi Daver and Danesh Noshir Irani; January 14 Shernaz Dadi Elavia and Kayomarz Noshir Palkhiwalla; January 14 Tina Farokh Messman and Homiyar Behrain Wykes; January 19 Mahazareen Behram Dastur and Marzban Jamshed Hat hi ram] January 21 Monaz Behram Kelawala and Cyrus Dinshaw Darbari', January 22 Ruxana Jal Adajania and Fredy Soli Hansolia', January 22 Dilshad Farokh Kolah and Neville Noshirwan Korshaw; January 22 Kamal Homi Ichhaporia and Darius Jal Moos; January 22 Zenobia Kersi Bhadha and Birjis Dinshaw Chinoy of Secunderabad; January 23 Tanaaz Dinshaw Daruwalla and Phiroze Rusi Damania of Ahmednagar; January 23 Mehernaz Ralan Bharucha and Feroze Gev Merchant; January 23 Shanaz Jal Kanga and Jamshed Nanabhai Patel; January 24 Benifer Adi Amin and Khushroo Tehemtan Satarawala; January 24 Ooshhin Fardoon Nicholson and Darayes Jal Shroff; January 24 Navaaz Dara Dastur and Adil Noshir Tantra; January 24 Natasha Keki Dadiseth and Faridun Sam Dotiwala; January 25 Fenana Hoshang Bhavuchct and Soli Minoo Mawji; January 25 Farida Firoz Patel and Dick Sam Readymoney; January 26 Parizad Minoo Master and Naozad Kaikobad Sirwalla; January 26 Dilkhush Jehangir Irani of Las Vegas and Aspy Jamshed Taraporewalla of Alpharetta, USA; January 26 Keshmira Shapur Delkhah and Rohintan Sohrab Elavia; January 28 Shiraz Dara Vakharia and Dosu Rohintan Sarkari; January 28 Farida Dhanjishaw Cooper and Shahrukh Rohinton Bhathena of Vasai; January 30 Naazneen Adi Engineer an, ' Mahiyar Naval Engineer; January 30 Yasmin Sam Deboo of Navsari and Sharukh Tehmurasp Dumasia; January 31 I DIED Jal Naoroji Driver (85), residing at B/4, Taiyabi Manzil, Forjett St Cross Lane, 400036; December 31, 1998 Framroze Meherwanji Dubash (88), F/14, Godrej Baug, Off Napean Sea Rd, 400026; December 31 Makki Shiavux Mistry (69), 84, Satnam Apts, Opp World Trade Centre, 93, Cuffe Parade, 400005; January 1, 1999 Minoo Framroze Wadia (67), Chaman Chmbs, 1st Marine St, New Marine Lines, 400020; January 1 Khodadad Khodabux Irani (75), 586, Chira Bazar, J. S. S. Rd, 400002; January 2 Aban Keki Pardiwalla (48), Dosibai Jehangir Home for Aged, Masina Hosp Compd, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 2 Banu Soli Anklesaria (62), D/10, Malegamwalla Bldg, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; January 3 Rustom Pherozeshah Printer (85), 25/H, Wellingdon Catholic Clny, S. V. Rd, Santacruz (W), 400054; January 3 Hilla Cawasji Sachinwalla (83), 6, Dhandadina Hse, 6, (I ® CHampiuN ©REGD. trade mark Mechanical Packings, Fluid Sealants and Asbestos Textiles, Yarn, Ropes, Belts, Packings CHAMPION SEALS & PACKINGS Private Limited 15, Bruce Street, Fort, Bombay 400023 Fax: 091-22-8208686/8381447/8370247 Telex: 011 -79003 FIRE IN Telephone: 8367311-15 Til Parsiana February-March i9'39 Jehangir Daji Cross Lane, Off Sleater Rd, 400007; January 5 Phiroze Sheriar Tavadia (63), 19, Maradia Bhavan, 6th Khetwadi Lane, 400004; January 5 Freny Phiroz Bamji (78), 2()/D, Wimbridgc Hsc, N. Bharucha Marg, 400007; January 7 Mehroo Jehangir Driver (74), 65/A, Cote D’Azur, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; January 7 Roshen Framroj Kurwa (83), Pundole Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 7 Bomi Framroze Pithawala (71), 0/7, Dalal Esl, Lamington Rd, Bombay Ccntrak 4()()()08; January 7 Minocher Ardeshir Daruwalla (86), D/62, New Chandra Co-op Hsg Soc, Vccra Desai Rd, Andheri (W), 400053; January 8 Jerbai Dadahhoy Dumasia m), 15, Girija Sadan, Khetwadi 7th Lane, 400004; January 8 Jamshed Ratansha Hillomvalla (71), Bhivandiwalla Bldg. 583/2, Girgaum Rd, 400002; January 8 Maneck Jalejar Taraporewalla ((H). C/o N. P. Variava, H/29, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 8 Dhun Minoo Sahiar (85), 24, Tara Manzil, 1st Dhobitalao Lane, 400002; January 9 Naju Keki Contractor (82), 607/B, Sohrab Hse, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 10 Hillamai Pestonji Pochkhanawalla (92), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 10 Aloo Merhwanji Sagar (86), C/o A. S. Baria, 602, Garden View, Somnath Lane, Bandra, 400050; January 10 Mani Phiroze Boomla (66), 3/62, Kailash, S. V. Rd, Borivli (W), 400092; January 11 Noshir Dhunjisha Chhayela (57), 6, Mehta Bldg, M. Pasta Rd, Dadar, 400014; January 11 Sheriar Behram Irani (65), Irani Dharamshalla, Pandita Ramabai Marg, Gamdevi, 400007; January 11 Maneckji Minocher Patel (52), Raiyanigram Bldg 4, Sadvichar, B/205, Simpoli, Borivli (W), 400092; January I 1 Ros han Cawas Sethna (68), M3/34, Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 11 Shiavak Eruchsha Shroff (85), 201, Robert ’s Ark, Chinchpokli Rd, Off Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 11 Phirojsha Behrainji Bhagat (72), 4, Panday Sanatorium, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 12 Tehmina Kaikhusroo Dariiwalla (.Tl}, Mehta Bldg, Khan Est, Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; January 12 Jehangir Shavakshaw Pithawala (JJ), Jelubai Wadia Bldg, 84/85, Lady Jehangir Rd, Matunga, 400019; January 12 Sheroo Khurshed Anklesaria (74), 153, Jaswanti Niwas, Mody St, Fort, 400001; January 13 Piloo Malcolm Malcolm (82), B/12, Jaiphal Ter, K. V. N. Naik Marg, 400036; January 13 Jal Dadabhoy Mistry (82), 147/A, Adam Mhl, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; January 13 Ruby Rusi Sachinwalla (46), 386/B, Jagmohandas Bldg, J. Shankerseth Rd, 400002; January 13 Coomi Jal Tarapore (79), 7,Lady Dorab Tata Bldg No 2, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 13 Shirinheu Jamshedji Elavia (86), 21, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 14 Jal Jehangir Kaka (84), A/2, Palm Springs, CulYe Parade, 400005; January 14 Meheroo Pirojshaw Mistry (75), C/o Adi Lovji Doctor, Hongkongwalla Cooper Chawl, 9th Lane, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; January 14 Jeroo Adi Modi (88), 622, Palia Mans, Lady Jehangir Rd. Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 14 Homi Rultonji Kalyaniwalla (88), 41, Subh Nivas, Karelwadi, Thakurdwar, 400002; January 15 Xerxes Behram Kerawedla (46), Sidhwa Bldg, Princes.s St, 400002; January *15 Noshir Kaikhushroo Lali (84), A/5, Rustom Palace, Tardeo, 400007; January 16 Homai Hormusji Sagar (91), Type 111, D/16, Tata Clny, Mahul Rd, Chembur, 400074; January 16 Maneck Nadirshah Sarkari (70), 2/18, Awabai Bldg, GINZA INDUSTRIES LIMITED Manufacturers of Raschel Fabrics and Laces Lycra Fabrics and Laces Elastic Tapes and Nylon Crimped Yam ^IDevkaranlViansion, 3rd Floor, 43, Princess Street, Mumbai 400002 Tel: 2019969/2062464/2075792 Fax: 2085778 E-mail: ginza@bom3.vsnl.net.in 224 Parsiana February-March 1999 Sleater Rd, 400007; January 16 Perin Hoini Canteenwalla (63), 14/3, Panthaky Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; January 17 Behrain Savakshaw Talat\ (86), P-9, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 17 Minoo Sorabji Bagli (75), Daswani Hse, Dhuswadi, Dhobitalao, 400002; January 18 Banubai Pirojsha Billiinoria (80), 0/7, Ava Baug, Opp S. T. Depot, Navsari, 396445; January 18 Roshan Adi Flavia (60), A/19, Daury Ngr, Nehru Rd, Santacruz (E), 400055; January 18 Perviz. Savak Gaiuhnda (62), Moti Mans, B.E.S.T. Marg. Apollo Bunder, 40()()39; January 18 Parviz. Nanabhai Mehta (91), A, Satya Bhama Nivas, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; January 18 Homi Shavaksha Mistrv (84), 194, Talaty Bldg, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; January 18 Dhun Doliba Pilbawalla (76), 20-23, Patanwala Mhl, E. S. Patanwalla Marg, 400027; January 18 With Best Compliments From Maneck Noshir Cooper (47), Crown Mans, Forjett St, Gowalia Tank, 400036; January 19 Homi Merwanji Hakim (83), 16/17B, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 19 Homai Ardesher Lelinwalla (65), Lam Bldg, Lower Parel, 400013; January 19 Najamai Rustom Malaowala (95), 4/21, Tata Blocks, Sir C. J. Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 20 Adi Dara Vakil (76), Vakil Bglw, Opp Mission Church, Dahanu Rd (E), 401602; January 20 Jal Jehangir Khambata (88), 602-C, Indu Villa, Lady Jehangir Rd, Matunga, 400019; January 21 Cooverji Shavaksha Mody (81), B-4, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, 400007; Jan\tary 21 Banoo Dorah Dahiveda (72), Kerawala Bldg, 789, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 22 Dinbai Burjorji Daruwalla (99), 3/1, Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033;January 22 Soonamai Aspandiar Gbadially (98), F-51, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 22 Coomi Cawasji Italia (88), Malegamwalla Bldg 2, Chhotani Cross Rd, Mahim, 400016; January 22 Najamai Meherji Kotwal (87), C-36, Samadhan Co-op Soc, Chakala, 400099; January 22 Keki Jehangirji Limhuwala (79), Jijibai Bldg, Khan Est, Chhotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; January 23 Freni Dinshaw Bhot (63), F/24, M-2, M. Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 24 Jeanie Firoze Khambatta (83), F-17, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 25 Goolcher Dadabhai Mehta (96), Old Master Bldg, 275/L, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 25 Pilan Minocher Mullan (84), 303, Namdar Hse, 89, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 25 Shapur Maneckshaw Sidhwa (56), 102, Parsi Salsette Association, Pump Hse, Andheri (E), 400069; January 26 Ratanbai Dadabhoy Daruwalla (82), Dr Dadina Bldg, Jehangir Daji St, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 27 Keki Behramsha Balsara (83), B-16, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; January 29 Darab Jehangir Jussawalla (84), B21-22, Darshan Apts, Mount Pleasant Rd, 400006; January 29 Aloo Ardeshir Polishwalla (82), D, Karai Est, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 29 Homi Dinshaw Tata (63), F-5, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; January 29 Soli Byrainji Udwadia (74), 97B, tri Sandhya, Dadasaheb Phalke Rd, Dadar, 400014; January 29 Shiavak Rustomji Mistry CA-), 629/B, N. J. Wadia Dispensary Bldg, Homavazir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 30 Edaiji Pallonji Dadachanji (94), 39/B, Cool Mill, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 31 Peshotan (Pesi) Ardeshir Mistry (16), TISIH, Motlibai Wadia Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 31 Behram Ardeshir Nentin (93), Peace Haven, 49/50, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 31 With Best Compliments From SAFANA AQUA PVT LTD Exporters of Seafood For details please contact SAFANA AQUA PVT LTD Anand Bhavan, 3rd Floor, 348 Dr D. N. Road, Fort, Bombay 400001 Phone: 2040046 226 Parsiana February-March 1999 Jehanhux Honnasciji Patel (76), G-42, Cusrow Baug. S. B. Rd, 400039; January 31 CALCUTTA BORN A boy, Danesh, to Shenaz. and Jubin Dabir, January 4 DIED Shirin Minu Jila, mother of Darius and Pervin Darius Nusserwanji; December 10, 1998 Aspv Jed Dandiwala, husband of Roshan and father of Shahruk and Kaizad; January 2, 1999 Banoo Shapurji Guzder, January 18 Jeroo Sherosh Kaikohad. mother of Pervez and Gaver Chatterjee; January 25 Mani Hosliang Engineer, mother of Parvez and Meheryar; January 31 JABALPUR DIED Noshir Ardeshir Batliwalla (68), husband of Mani and father of Kerman and Jasmine Jal Engineer; December 17, 1998 JHANSI DIED Najamai Dossahai Maneckji (87); December 31 KATNI DIED Beji Cowasji Bajaii (66), husband of Aban and father of Jeroo Kersy Modi, Firoza Zarir Dalal and Navaz jehangir Daruwalla; January 14, 1999 NAVSARI MARRIED Navaz Suratia of Birmingham, UK, daughter of Amy and Kali, and Zubin Contractor of London; December 31, 1998 POONA DIED Manijeh Feroze Boomla (73), C/9, Konark Ngr II, 411014; December 5 Erachshaw Dinshaw Desai (85), 605, Kumar Korner, Convent St, 411001; December 10 Dhun Jehangir Dastur (86), 857, D. M. Rd, 411001; December 22 Hilla Faredoon Dinshaw (98), 3/A, Castellino Rd, 411001; December 23 Gidbai Meherwanji Kharadi (SJ), 5/B, Survey No 247+14 B, Deccan College Rd, Yerawada, 411006; December 24 Piloo Khodadad Yazdabadi (11), K. P. Towers I, Fatima Ngr, 411013; December 25 Nargesh Bhadur Gandhi (80), 613-A/3, Nana Peth, 411002; December 30 Noshir Nariman Dastur (82), 850, D. M, Rd, 411001; January 5, 1999 Behrani Shapur Irani (79), Talukdar Bldg, 177, M. G. Rd, 411001; January 5 Bomanshaw Munchershaw Daruwalla (93), 13, Mody Clny, Synagogue St, 411001; January 7 Meheru Noshir Adajania (16), C-3l3Q'l, Natasha Enclave, NIBM Rd, Kondhwa, 411048; January 14 Burjor Aaderjee Nogama (73), 8, Bund Garden Rd, 411001; January 14 Rati Edulji Unwalla (85), B/11, Kumar Castle Soc, Convent St, 411001; January 14 Kaikhashru Kharshedji Sunavala (102), 3/B, Hill View, Salisbury Park, 411037; January 15 Behram Jamshedji Katrak(67), J/6, Sacred Heart Town, Wanowrie, 411040; January 20 Khorshed Jal Engineer (88), 17-B/24, VishrantSoc, Vishrant- wadi, 411015; January 21 Jainshed Faramazian Irani (93), C/o National Stores, 2398, Sholapur Rd, 411001; January 23 Eruch Ijdiarji Sarondewala (80), G/11, Green Acres, Salunke Vihar Rd, 411048; January 25 FIGURES AT A GLANCE Bombay This issue 1998* 1999'-* India This issue 1998* 1999^ This issue World 1998* 1999*^ BIRTHS Boys Girls 7 7 115 92 7 6 2 2 5 1 3 3 47 34 1 1 SECUNDERABAD BORN A boy, Yashaan, to Jeroo and Aspi Cawasji', December 17, 1998 MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out 51 262 37 36 42 1 15 18 1 1 1 2 9 1 SURAT DIED Eruch Hosangji Chiniwala (84), Kela ni vakhar, Lalgate, 395003; December 31 Sorahji Rustomji Havaldar fjl), Sorab Mans, Rastipura, Brhanpur; January 5, 1999 Savaksha Jahangirji Hillowala (81), Dehla Mohallo, Rustom- pura, 395002; January 5 Perinhanoo Naoroji Bajwala (85), Kooka Chawl, Rani Talao, 395003; January 6 Freni Rustomji Sarkari (80), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; January 7 Dhanmai Ardeshir Nariman (75), E. G. Meher Bglw, Somnath Soc, Ichhanath, 395003; January 9 Darabsha Kavasji Besania (80), Bartad, Tai Mahuva, Dist Surat, 394250; January 12 Pirojhai Rustomji Bhesania (97), Chandra Villa Apt, Vanki Bordi, 395003; January 16 Darabshaw Naoroji Tampal E15}, Village Bartad, Tai Mahuva, Dist Surat, 394250; January 16 Parvez Darabsha Munshi (70), Gita Apt, Nanpura, 395001; January 18 Darayash Hosang Adibain (28), Navchetan Soc, J. P. Rd, 395003; January 21 Sltavaksha Maneksha Mir (62), 6, Upasna Apt, Kharva Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; January 26 Dali Faramji Patel (63), Village Vesu, Dist Surat; January 31 DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 40 43 481 513 38 43 21 19 119 110 18 11 9 4 53 47 4 1 7 4 ?Running totals for 1998 (January 1998-February-March 1999 issues) oRunning totals for 1999 (January 1999 issue) Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. *These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. Ontario DIED Kersi Dinshawji Doodha. husband of Coomi and father of Arnie and Dolsie; December 29, 1998 IRAN DIED Esfandiar Khodadad Khosra- viani (85), father of Kiyan Pas- hootanizadeh; January 2, 1999 PAKISTAN Karachi DIED Alloo Minoo Sidhwa (84), mother ofRoshan Kapadia and Homai Anklesaria; December 17, 1998 UK Essex BORN A boy, Darius, to Erine and Jiinniy Shroff of Upminster, brother to Rhea; November 6 Channel Close, Sutton Rd, Heston; September 29 London DIED Dinshaw Daruvala C14-), 209, Ribblesdale Rd, SW16; December 1 Sorabji N. Sethna (95), 53, Musgrave Court, 110, Battersea Bridge Rd, SWl 1 3AN; January 9, 1999 Burjor Maneckji Magol, 31, Higham Hill Rd, El 7 6EA; January 23 Middlesex BORN A girl, Zara, to Kamal and Fershoster Patel of Harrow; July 4, 1998 DIED Homi Behramjee Austin (95), 47, Rose Court, Nursery Rd, Pinner, HA5 2AR; December 23 January 16, 1999 Colorado BORN A girl, Yasmin, to Brandy and Phiroze Sethna at Denver; August 30, 1998 Illinois BORN A boy, Justin, to Gurpreet and Farokh Kianipour at Chicago; January 10, 1999 DIED Erachsha Fakirji Master, husband of Jer and father of Katy Mike Engineer at Chicago; December 29, 1998 Firoz Noshirwan Khory, father of Noshir; January 7, 1999 CANADA British Columbia DIED Roda Jamshed Pavri (77), mother of Yezdi, in Vancouver; January 19 Herts DIED Rustom Byram Limbuvalu (71), 11, Homefield, Potter End, Berkhamsted, HP4 2QX; November 7 Hounslow DIED Khorshed Keki Vania (82), 63, 228 Parsiana February-March 1999 Peterborough DIED Roshan Honii Bulsara (67), 48, All Saints Rd, PEI 2QU; October 11 Kentucky BORN A boy, Kaizad, to Neena and Cyrus Joshi at Louisville, July 29, 1998 USA California BORN A girl, Jasmyn-Ava, to Shiraz and Jai lrani at Yareka; Missouri MARRIED Melanie Bacon, daughter of Jean and Richard, and Shiraz Patel, son of Roda and Khushroo at St Louis; January 2, 1999 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver