Apr 1999

ri; ?<2!' ¦ K- ¦' < ,1 I 'ia>'5 '#,c 1 ?>V' *¦01 ^5 ¦i’/d ft >. I 1 4 ? ¦t “ ' 4 y' I ' I.' /• < .w •4« » ? ‘i rX,; 3% I -« >'^ ? V ‘ Flv^ :{. .M, '4-. I T Ft .•fltwre 1 nsK b*'.?» w •• i - J-i J 'LW ». -v—¦'••=^;^.«yw.' ¦gsi • $ ¦t.' ;«__ _ •x.2?-d I '-£^'4 '../'•'S i^i'' J VjL ^5EDITOR 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 Bhagwat ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT Varsha Patwardhan ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Indu Pillai OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 2 Readers’ Forum 10 Events and Personalities April 1999 Volume 21 Number 9 20 XII All India Zoroastrian Youth Seminar 26 Ethical editions by Neville Bastawalla 28 UK Zoroastrians: The making of an anjuman by Arnavaz Mama 34 Jai Vakeel School: An act of grace by Yasmine Lemos 36 The J. J. Art of Charity Exhibition by Hilla Guzder 52 Books 56 Milestones 60 In Memoriam: Dr Burjor Bharucha Cover; Decorative chandelier at the SJJPBI Photo; Chetan Mistry 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 and Scana Color (India) Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0971 -3786. Phone: 2078730, 2072624. Fax: 2074541. For editorial enquiries: 2078183. E-mail: parvo@giasbm01 .vsnl.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 325; for two years (22 issues) Rs 625; for three years (33 issues) Rs 925. Foreign subscription rates: Seamail for one year Rs 575/ US $ 15/UK £ 9; for two years Rs 1,100/US $ 27/UK £ 17; for three years Rs 1,595/US $ 38/UK £ 23 (please allow six months or more for seamail delivery from the time of publication). Airmail for one year Rs 850/US $ 23/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 650); for two years, Rs 1,600/US $ 43/UK £ 27 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,225); for three years Rs 2,400/US $ 60/UK £ 37 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,825). For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 20 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana.READERS’ FORUM ¦ I i I HmwDU I ¦ BBS SiO H Readers’ views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers’ Forum, Farsiana, 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. “A country apart” I have just read the Parsiana (“A coun­ try apart, ” Zoroastrians Abroad, Janu ­ ary 1999) and my interview therein. I hope you do realize that in trying to “spice-up ” her article Arnavaz Mama may have stirred up a hornet ’s nest. At the very start of the interview, I asked whether I was speaking on behalf of my family or the community and hoped this wouldn’t turn out more like a “Parsi natak (drama). ” Was that the reason I wasn ’t shown the draft before going to print? Distance has put the Parsiana on a pedestal in the hearts of most overseas Arnavaz Mama replies Zarathushtis. Like the numerous other icon.s it holds a special place in the psyche of our race. Surely, you as one of its stalwarts could have shown better judgment in positioning some of my quotes in the right context. Just as you have fully utilized your writer ’s free ­ dom I hope you’ll be fair enough to grant me the opportunity to let your rarest case is this done because Parsiana policy has always been to maintain the privacy of its articles until they are pub ­ lished. readers know what “the other half ’ said: •Darius Pavri has looked after the reli ­ gious needs of our community with dig­ nity and honor for more than a decade. However, he made it very clear from the start that he would not partake in any Filling in the gaps navjote or wedding ceremonies; only because he felt he may not be qualified to perform the same. As a community we have never discussed the “touchy” topic of conversion with him. Hence, “Pavri however re ­ fuses to accept them” at the end of the para on conversion is to­ tally misplaced. •Minochehr Shahzadi Wiidia: lei does a lot of travel in readers know his job. Beside.s he was transferred a couple of times and has anchored down in Perth only recently. Since Darius was already performing a kusti on the verandah of the building, the rituals and the community had got­ ten used to one code, Minochehr didn’t find the need to upset a settled format. In fact, he has played a prominent part in all religious matters at all other times. There was never any “fear ” or “rifts created ” between the two rituals. It is misunderstandings, such as these, that create them. •Dean Todd may not have come to the spread, ” Parsiana. September 1998) in Pateti function for personal reasons. He dairy farming. Their frightening experi- may have felt disheartened at the re ­ sponse to his offer for religious lectures. Now to “pepper ” these two with: “Todd took offence and didn’t come to the Pateti function ” is pure sensationalizing Chinoy brothers were returning from of an absolute non-event. Germany astride two gleaming 750 cc We are a very young and energetic four-cylinder Honda motorbikes. They community but in a very placid corner stopped at a wayside eating place some- of the world. We will need the support of where in Turkey. A member of the PKK other brethren to fulfil our dreams and aspirations. The last thing we needed was a cat among the pigeons. HOMEE WADIA Perth, Australia We have just learnt of the sad demise of Rohinton Chinoy of Union Press who was a very hard worker, sometimes stay ­ ing up to 11 p.m. to complete certain orders. A great loss to the community. In the article on the Bajan family of Katni “Mines and the man ” (Parsiana, June 1998), Parsiana missed out, I think, on the four-storied Bajan Building in Navsari ’s Kanga Wad. It was the tallest building in Navsari for nearly half a century, its metal rooftop tower visible from miles around. I know, because in the ’50s I used to fly kites from the rooftop of that building! I still have the photo of Jerbai Bajan in her 90s weaving The Damania bungalow is opposite the Bajan Building and Jerbai used to send across a tray of the best tea with mint leaves, lemon grass and all in a pot whenever my dad and I arrived from Bombay. Jerbai ’s kind and generous nature is legendary in Navsari. I was happy to read of the exploits of the Chinoy brothers (“Chinoy’s cheese 'O ence in Turkey at the hands of the Turkish secret police was harrowing since they were mistaken for PKK Kurdish terror ­ ists! I remember the incident well. The terrorist group came and sat next to them and started chatting to them about their bikes, etc. Unfortunately, as it happens, the PKK terrorist was under the surveil ­ lance of the Turkish secret police! Hence the Chinoy brothers were suspected of being Kurdish and members of the PKK based in Germany! There are a very large Homee Wadia has picked three flaws in my article and it is possible that what he numberofpeopleofKurdish origin living meant to convey and what I perceived in Germany. The Chinoy brothers were were separated by a margin of error. In badly roughed up by the secret police but any case, I am happy that he has put the record straight. Where I differ from Wadia is in his alleged reason why his request to see the through Turkey over land using one’s draft article was denied. Only in the 1 2 Parsiana April 1999 were finally allowed to go when the truth dawned on the Turks! It has been my experience also that it is unwise to travel own transport.Then there was the pharmacist Bill and Company, the suppliers of medi­ cines and provisions to the entire Dadar- Matunga area. I recollect going there with my dad and buyin ig Farmer Brothers is one of the last Parsi enterprise.s at Dadar ’s Khodadad Circle, together with the tiny Wadi walla Florist across the road and the TIME watchmakers, both ot which are below with my dad and buying a bottle of the staircases ol the line buildings ot imported Hall ’.s port wine every now Khodadad Circle (which, incidentally, ha.s been saved for now from being renamed). For a time, a Parsi-owned milk shake and ice-cream bar called Fresh-Up came up opposite the Farmer Brothers and gave tough competition. (Kersi Chinoy who ran Farmer Brothers died in a motorcycle accident in No­ vember 1998 — Editor) Time wa.s when the entire Khodadad Circle was doited with a considerable numberof Parsi-owned shops. Now they are all gone. Who can forget the fine breads and biscuits of Star Bakery ? And the white unsaltcd butter packs which came with the bread at one’s home early in the morning in the Dadar Parsi Colony established by Mancherji Joshi? The Vincent Store.s wa.s the first to slock the imported red ball cheese and broilers (frozen meats was a novelty in the mid 1950s) in addition to dry fruits and other daily provisions. The store owner, a bachelor who always wore a black Parsi topi in the shop, and dagla and pheta when he went out, had a fat cat who used to sleep on the glass counter all day cozily warm from the heating lamp.s which kept the potato wafers, sailed cashew nuts, and chevda warm. Alas, the Parsi dagla and pheta has gone the way of the sola topi as a daily attire of gentlemen in Bombay (these men were in a different clas.s from you and me ). Then there was N. Khurshed and Company, cloth merchants, who among other things used to supply cloth for the stitching of school, boy scouts and Na ­ tional Cadet Corp.s uniform.s of all the children of the Parsi and Hindu Colo­ nics. For a lime Nowroji Writer and Company on the opposite side of the Circle used to sell readymade garments and cloth, in competition to the larger N. Khurshed and Company. After suffer ­ ing losses the Writer family sold off their shop and moved to under the stair ­ case of one of the adjacent buildings and turned to selling magazines. Comic book.s and foreign glamor magazines such as Photoplay could be had on hire on a daily basis. They retired from the business and their employee took over. Readers older than me can, I am sure, remember more Parsi enterprises in the Khodadad Circle, but the above is what I could dig up from my fading memory banks. Dfardeshirb . damania California, USA and then. But that was before Morarji Desai became chief minister of Bombay To HCCCSS the dokhlllHS with its disastrous consequences for the Parsis (we substituted it later with Zandu ’s drakshasav). They used to also munity residing outside the municipal stock sandalwood, sudrehs and topis and Icghas. The Leach and Weborny laundry next to Bill and Company was also Parsi-owned. And Yazdan and Company was one of the four (yes l our) Irani restaurants of the Khodadad Circle, famous for its broon pav and maska as well as their hoped that all concerned will follow the bread pudding (custer). Who can forget Behram Irani dishing out huge chunks of bread pudding forjustSOpaiseas late as in the 1970s? If the buyer wa.s a child speedy clearance of the bodies, with a solitary 50 paisc coin in its little hand, Behram would slide his chamach slightly more liberally into the large tray bolding the cuslcr so that the tiny tot would get a little extra. Although an eccentric, he had a big heart. Then, which child in the Parsi Colony did not get to play with one of the toys from Colony Stores? And who could forget its genial proprietor and his In­ dian Chief motorcycle? Half the Colony would reverberate with the sound of the huge V-twin engine each morning when he kick-started the motorbike for a short the Doongerwadi administration fortheir ride to his shop. This motorbike is now a collector ’s piece and would fetch a handsome price here in the US. I wonder what happened to it! The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) wishes to inform members of the com- limits of Bombay about the formalities to be observed should they desire to consign the bodies of their relatives at the Doongerwadi in Bombay. These guidelines are published with a view to providing assistance to mem­ bers of the community. It is earnestly needed statutory requirements as that will help ourDoongerwadi managerand his staff to extend their support in the In case of death overseas: •The deceased must be born of a Parsi father with a navjote performed. •The body will have to be brought in a coffin after being embalmed in compli­ ance with the regulations of the country in question. •As per statutory requirements in Bom­ bay the following original papers should be brought compulsorily from abroad, with two xerox sets, as all the originals will be taken away at the coroner ’s of ­ fice and one of the sets will be kept by records: a certificate from the doctor of the family/hospital of the deceased abroad certifying the death of the de­ ceased and the cause of death; a No =_ I Do()iif>ei-wadi at Boiiihay: exclusive and expensive mode of disposal 4 Parsiana April 1999Doongerwadi lor dokhmenashini. In case of death in India but outside Greater Bombay [i.c. outside Dahisar (West) and Mulund (East)j; •The original documents required are: a doctor ’s certificate stipulating cause of death ; a NOC from the police authorities known system of disposing of dead bod- at their end. •After the body comes to the Doonger ­ wadi, the relatives of the deceased have to approach the Malabar Hill Police Sta ­ tion whence a policeman will accom- Objection Certificate (NOC) Irom the police authorities abroad where the be ­ reaved family resides; a postmortem report must be carried to Bombay by the bereaved family failing which a post ­ mortem will have to be carried out at the government Cooper Hospital near the Bombay Airport. This may entail delays of a day or two in consigning the body to the Towers of Silence. •The Doongerwadi manager should be contacted on Tel 009122 3671676 or 009122 3675974 before bringing the ,pany them to the Doongerwadi to ex­ body to Bombay for dokhmenashini to enable him to send the hearse to the Airport on the basis of the flight particu ­ lars intimated. •On arrival of the body at the Bombay Airport the Doongerwadi manager and his staff members along with the family members of the deceased will make ar ­ rangements to take the body to the Santa Cruz Police Station (West) for obtaining a NOC. •After obtaining the Police Clearance Certificate the body will be taken to the coroner ’s office at the Cooper Hospital to obtain a NOC from the coroner for consigning the body to the Towers ol Silence. The body will then be taken to to the relatives accompanying the bod ­ ies. DINSHAW K. TAMBOLY Trustee, Bombay Parsi Punchayet Outlived the dokhmas? Dokhmenashini is a unique and the least ies. Dokhmas were built in the past and exist only in certain towns/villages of the erstwhile Bombay province and a couple of other towns in India. At all other places in India and abroad, includ­ ing Iran, the community has adopted the .................... ¦ I times community members are opting to dis ­ pose dead bodies through the electric crematorium. The dokhmas in Bombay are built in a very prestigious and exclusive local ­ ity. The expenditure on the maintenance ecute a panchnama. In case of any doubt method of burial, but in recent the policeman will send the body tor postmortem or else the relatives will have to proceed with all relevant papers brought by them along with the panchnama made by the said policeman to the J. J. Coroner ’ s Court (Jury House) . The Jury House will then issue a NOC and upkeep ofthe Doongerwadi must be on the strength ofwhich the body will be " *' ' consigned to the Towers of Silence. fantastic. Some time ago, our enthusias ­ tic trustees had arranged a congregation We hope that after reading the above of the members of the community — the guidelines our community brethren ' ‘ ‘ abroad and outside Bombay will realize that the BPP, the Doongerwadi manager and his staff have to function within the ambit of the law and have no intentions whatsoever to cause any further distress object being to inform them that a large number of non-Parsis have encroached upon the Doongerwadi grounds. The outcome of the meeting is not known. Once a person is dead, the corpse is nothing but flesh and bones, as bad as 6 Parsiana April 1999The venerated white hull at Udvada that of any corpse and it is required to be disposed of as soon as possible. Il is of no consequence how it is destroyed; however it has a great sentimental value. It is necessary to give utmost respect to the dead by bidding a grave, sincere and dignified farewell. It is also necessary lo create a calm and peaceful atmosphere by reciting prayers in a dignified and decorous manner. I had no objection lo the dead being disposed of in any manner till one day I saw a motion picture in which there was a heinous and ghastly scene of a vulture tearing apart and devouring its prey. It is just as well that nobody, except the nasscssalars, are ever allowed lo enter the dokhmas. Under what circumstances, how and when the dokhma system was conceived is not known. There are lots of versions, we are told, and we do not know which is right and which is not. Without ever questioning whether the dokhmenashini system is hygienic/ scientific or messy/barbaric, the com­ munity has accepted the system and the same has served the community well for centuries, but the lime has come lo look into the working of the dokhmas to see if they are relevant now. Dokhma.s at most places other than Bombay have become redundant. Due to their non utility and also due to lack of funds, the dokhmas and their surroundings badly neglected and are in a desolate state. There are no vullure.s there and if and when the dead bodies are placed inside, they lie there, get decomposed, emitting a foul stench. In the absence of vultures, only crows can have acccs.s inside the dokhmas and one can imagine the slate. Bombay has a sizable population of Zoroastrians. How long the Punchayet will be able to bear the burden is a big question. In any case the dokhmenashini system is not free from hiccups. The residential buildings that have come up near the dokhma.s have affected the tran ­ quility and the atmosphere required for habitation of the birds. There is already a complaint that a stench reachc.s the Spenta residential flats. The Punchayet, priests, the orthodox lobby and the publisher of the booklet Tower of Silence have all praised the dokhmenashini system calling it most hygienic, most scienli fic and have staled that the Parsis, bcingphilanthropic, place are 8 Parsiana April 1999 DAI.I GUNDEVIA Edited by Parinaz M. Gandhi g- the dead in a dokhma lo he devoured by the vultures, as a last act of charily. I am curious lo know if any one person out of those listed in the booklet had gone inside the dokhma lo witness the pro ­ ceedings. The scriptures were formulated cen­ turies ago after full deliberation and taking into account all aspects — social, economical and geographical — preva ­ lent al that particular period of time and in the country of its origin, Iran. What wa.s acceptable yesterday is not good enough today and what is good enough today will not be proper tomorrow. Noth­ ing i.s static and we must make it a habit lo move with the changing limes. To change/reform is a way of life and we should always be prepared for a change brought in at the funeral ceremony to when it is beneficial. Change for the judge whether the corpse was still alive, sake of change i.s not acceptable. To avoid bickering amongst the different groups of the community, it is suggested that two consultancy agencies be appointed, each consist ­ ing of one or at the most three per ­ sons, unbiased outsiders, with a high degree of integrity. One committee should be of lechnical/scienlific mem­ bers to decide on the mode of disposal ol dead bodies and the other manage ­ ment consultants lo review and su, gest change.s lo improve efficiency of the corpse, but not a non-Parsi human and productivity. being. I will be grateful if, through these pages, someone can enlighten us on the scientific (not philosophical) explana ­ tions for the above three practices and their relevance in the nuclear age. Brig N. B. GRANT Poona The three Parsi myths If our holy Prophet Zoroaster gave us the three principles of living, namely, good thoughts, good words and good deeds, the Parsis of India have enun­ ciated the three myth.s of beliefs, viz, the bull ’s urine (taro), the dog’s diag ­ nostic skills, and the evil eye of the infidel (non-Parsi) at our funeral cer ­ emony. The taro of a 'sacred ’ white bull is venerated by us as the purest of all germfree liquids found in nature. In the olden days, when antiseptic was un­ known, perhaps the taro served its pur ­ pose. However in today ’s age of Dettol and Listerine, it has lost its meaning, yet the myth persists in all our ceremonies, like at navjotes, weddings and funerals with symbolic washing of our hands with taro. In the pre-scicntific days, (before the advent of the stethoscope), it was diffi ­ cult to correctly diagnose whether a per ­ son was dead or not. Thus a dos was The belief was that a dog shies away from a dead body. However today, in the age of X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, the belief still exists, and a man is not declared dead, unless a dog says so. Lastly, at our funeral ceremony, no infidel (non-Parsi) is allowed to see the face of the corpse, lest his evil eye defile the surrounding aura. However, a Parsi, who always spoke evil of the dead when alive, is allowed to see his face. As mentioned above, a dog can see the faceEvents and Personalities t'u ¦<7 ? L* B. a A Parsi-Irani bhai bhai “We assure you, you are welcome when­ ever you visit Iran, ” Dr Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, foreign minister of the Is ­ lamic Republic of Iran (IRI) said to the gathered Zoroastrians spe- JH cifically invited to meet him by the Consulate General of Iran on HH February 25, 1999. Kharrazi, Hp who was in Bombay after at- tending the Indo-Iran Joint Eco- nomic Commission ’s meet in New Delhi, offered a visitor ’s visa within 24 hours and even long-term visas to those who wanted to visit Iran frequently. Kharrazi was seeking invest- ment in Iran ’s textile, commu- nications and air industries sec- tors, but welcomed “any sort of help.” He referred to the “Parsi community’s important role in industrializing India ” and sought their help similarly in industri ­ alizing Iran, especially in the “free-zonc areas ” which he said were “more flexible and relaxed in terms of religion and laws. ” He also noted that cheap natural gas in Iran provided an opportu ­ nity for gas and petrochemical based fertilizers for import into India. Playing the sentiment card Kharrazi Top: Kharrazi with Nicholson and Godrej. Below: with Modi, Guzder and Iranian Con.snl Genered S. K. Yasini Photo; Arnavaz S. Mama similar meet with Parsi businessmen. K. R. Cama Oriental Institute trustee- seeretary Homai Modi introduced the community members to Kharrazi: envi- 1 * Jehangir Nicholson, former president of the International Planned Parent ­ hood Federation Avabai Wadia, noted surgeon Dr Tehemton Udwadia, ¦¦Illi Chemould Art Gallery ’s Kekoo Gandhy, scholar and interfaith representative Dr Homi Dhalla, the late president of the Iranian Anjuman Aspi Irani and several others. Modi continues as the focal point of contact with In- di an Zoroastrians for official IRI representatives ever since she liaised with them on the occa- sion of the Sixth World Zoroas- trian Congress. Godrej recalled his father Pirojsha ’s desire “that we do Hwt-ww something with Iran, ” and re- ferred to the Godrej corpo ­ ration ’s work in space technol­ ogy. He also requested the ex­ port of a few Asiatic lions from Iran to India. Guzder referred to racial similarities [how he was mistaken to be an Iranian and was promptly reassured by Kharrazi: “You were not mis ­ taken; you have more (Iranian) genes !”] and referred to the Parsi contribution in India ’s textile, airline and hydroelectric sec ­ tors. He also noted the “anxiety and preoccupation with our community survival ” and wondered if Parsi boys and girls could be encouraged to marry Iranian girls and boys, an idea seconded by Kharrazi who jested, “Perhaps export some Iranian babies! ” Patrawala commented on the “very wide acceptability ” of the Parsis as “a neutral community (though there is) no Parsi in the Indian Parliament since urged India ’s Parsis to “strengthen rela ­ tions with your ancestors. There should be more economic connections ” be ­ tween the Parsi community here and the Iranian Zoroastrians who he said were ronmentalist and head of the House of respected in Iran. “Your investment Godrej Sohrab Godrej, businessman and could be the beginning of visits and association with Iran for your younger generation, it could restore old bonds, ” added the Iranian ambassador. Earlier, on February 20, 1999 deputy foreign minister Mahamoud Vaezi had held a ronmenUilist and head of the House we Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chair ­ man Jamshed Guzder, Zoroastrian mem­ ber of the Indian Minorities Commis ­ sion Marazban Patrawala, BPP trustees Rajiv Gandhi died.” "" ~ Gandhy referred to his visit to Iran as a state guest with several Indian artists Dinshaw Tamboly, Rustom Tirandaz and Dinshaw Mehta, former sheriff 10 Parsiana April 1999and noted that he had just heard from UpCOITling 111118011111 the Maharashtra government about an exhibition of Iranian art to be held at the newly opened Sir J. J. Art Gallery. Wadia referred to her fourth visit to Iran last September when seven coun­ tries got together to discuss health anti family planning. She noted that Iran ’.s progres.s in those field.s and the provi ­ sion of health care even in rural areas was ‘ an eye-opener for us. We have much to learn from Iran how these arranged. Iranian women move about freely and in safety, hold university professorships... It i.s not backward or fundamentalist in that sense... Allow outside inlluence.s to see how it i.s hap ­ pening," she suggested and Kharrazi noted that 52 percent of university seals are occupied by women. Tirandaz spoke ofthe Parsis ’ "honor and honesty we are inflexible. ” "Zarathushtra has taught us... exactly what you said." responded Kharrazi. "We have a rich civilization that goe.s hack thousands of years. We have the capacity to build new civilization based on what we had in the past. ” he told hi.s Parsi "brotfier.s tind SISteiS. Anuvjz.S, Nliintii are Iwo aspects over which a painted on the wall, architectural draw ­ ings and explanation.s of the inside of a lire-temple, visuals of important place.s ol historic and religiou.s importance in Persia, stills of navjote and wedding ceremonies, photos of eminent Parsis of Ahmedabad. ‘‘Collecting, compiling and prepar ­ ing such items in the form of truc-to-life models, documents, charts, pictures and real artefacts, and then arranging them presenlably in the allotted space means a lot of hard work and substantial ex­ penditure. As per a rough estimate, this expenditure is likely to exceed two lakh rupees, ” details the release. The 135-ycar-old APP which is the parent body for over 2,000 Zoroastrians residing in Ahmedabad and it.s satellite areas has been focussing its energies on diverse activitic.s like medical and finan ­ cial aid, housing and education, encour ­ agement of self employment, disburse ­ ment of food grains, looking after the orga ­ nizing community dinners along with religiou.s and educative lectures. To defray the costs of the museum project, the Panchayat has appealed for financial assistance whilst specifying Zoroastrian customs, traditions and life ­ style are to be showcased for posterity at ii unique museum to be housed at Sanskar Kendra, a landmark in Ahmedabad de­ signed by the renowned architect Le Corbusier, note.s a press release issued by the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP). "We will exhibit such distinctive objects and artefacts a.s will truly relied our religion, culture and ethnicity for all times to come, writes the joint honorary secretary ofthe Panchayat F. D. Makha- nia, mentioning that this project under ­ taken by the Ahmedabad Municipal Cor ­ poration will depict characteristics of dilferent communities. The Panchayat propose.s to use the 200 sq It lloor space assigned to the Parsis by selling up a replica of a kebla with the associated hindhola, afargan, kathi and bidb llame: display item.s used in ijashne as also a ses: depict a model of a ilokhma: exhibit a kusli ___ ... ___ ___ ,, .......... jantar: allow space for wooden pillars public hall and dharamshala, and org: ig and gorillas as also a ihree-l ’oot wide wooden I'arohar hung I'roni the ceiling: showcase iraililional clothes, headgear and lootwear. Pictorial display will in­ clude a portrait of Zaralhushtra, oil MASTER MARINE SERVICES Surveyors Licence No: SLA 19207 Surveyors and Consultants Ship, Cargo and Marine Surveyors, Loss Assessors, Technical Consultants, Contdinei Teiminal Superintendents tind General Contractors, Container Repairers Reefer Cargo/Container Surveyors 22/D, S.A. Brelvi t-toad, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Phone: 2S73567/2S3214,S/2S7()7 16/2S86642/43 ‘Cable: ‘MOORINGS’ :=mms/s=bom/p=gcms/a=vsnl/c=in Telex: I IS-21 19 MMSB’ IN • Fax: 91-22-2S7()l 39 • Email: Internet: mms.bom^gems. vsnl.net. in Branches Ahmedabad - Calcutta - Jaipur - Kandla - Ludhiana - Nhava Sheva - New Delhi - Surat 12 Parsiana April 1999that they are exempted under section 80 adjudged, adds the write-up. G of the Income Tax Act. Cheques or demand drafts payable at Ahinedabad Academic acclaim and drawn in favor of “Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat ” may be sent to them at Parsi Agiary, BukharaMohalla. Khama- sa Gate, Ahmedabad 380001. Progressive principals To honor the three erstwhile principals of the Bai Pirojbai Manekji Patel Girls School “who did their job so exceed­ ingly well that the Patel School became an outstanding educational institution of south Gujarat, ” a felicitation func- ’I-Iv d ’ tion was organized on February 6, 1999 Driver (left) and Todiwalla: exeelling by the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) un­ der whose auspices the School i.s run, mentions a press release forwarded by Dr Ratan Marshall, ex secretary of the Panchayat. Since the SPP took over the manage ­ ment of the School about 55 years ago, introduced the government recognized curriculum, turned it into a cosmopoli ­ tan institution and made it a full-fledged girls ’ high school, the three principals who had contributed to its progress in a large measure were Kailas Gheevala (Desai), the late Thrity Kekobad and Maki Kabraji. Painted portraits of these three lady principals were unveiled by Homai J. Sethna, a renowned advocate of Surat and an ex-student of this insti ­ tution. Desai and Kabraji were also presented flowers and shawls on the occasion. Under the stewardship of the present principal Zinobia Engineer, this year the School was declared champion at the Surat District Vignan Mela winning prizes in all the six categories in which the students ’ proficiency in science was 14 Parsiana April 1999 For standing first among the Zoroas- trian students at the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in March 1998,14-year-old Delnaz Kurush Driver Fll^ ill studies was conferred the FOZAWAC (Fed­ eration of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture) Excellence Award, states a press release. Driver, who secured 89.73 percent, was not only first among the students at her Lady Vissanji Girls Academy, but also in Panthaky Baug, as also all the schools performance Todiwalla, who had of Andhcri East, adds the write-up. Among the other organizations which lelicitatcd Driver were the Zoroastrian Student-Teacher Association which pre ­ sented her a gold medal, The Nowroze Baug Play Centre, the Rotary Club of Bombay, Andhcri (East), the Lions Club of Marol and the Central Bank of India Officers ’ Union. Presently pursuing her studies in commerce. Driver plans a career in management. In addition to her aca ­ demic brilliance the teenager is also a honing under the banner of Hu-mata, the carrom champion who has displayed her prowess at inter-school meets. Yet another youth who has excelled in the academic field is Baizad Cawas glish and Devanagari scripts. “It involves a love for words, for their sound and shape, their depth and meaning, their interplay and their power, ” artist Pudumjee was quoted in Rapport, the newsletter of the Poona Parsee Panchayat. “Consequently trans ­ lating words into calligraphy is a purely personal experience and effort — and it is this personal touch that makes the end result alive and vibrant, ” she added. Doodling on paper which started off as a hobby as a child assumed greater seriousness when, after resigning as senior copywriter from Mudra Com­ munications, she opted to launch her Todiwalla who stood first in electronics engineering at the University of Bom­ bay ’.s Bachelor of Engineering exami ­ nation in 1998, as per a pres,s release. While a student at the M. H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering (affili ­ ated to the Bombay University) from 1994 to 1998, he ranked first during all the four years of electronics engineer ­ ing, adds the write-up. As a project trainee at Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company during his final year of bachelor studies, he was involved in designing a micro ­ controller based telephone dialer and message transmitter alarm sub-system for a security system being developed at the company. The 22-year-old lad from Nowroz Baug is presently work ­ ing as a graduate engineering trainee at the electronics design department of Larsen and Toubro Limited which i.s concerned with electronic systems de­ sign and simulation, note.s his bio data. With a consistently good academic se ­ cured the 35th rank at the Maharashtra Board ’s SSC examination in 1992 with 89.28 percent and a higher percentage, 90.17 at the Higher Secondary School Certificate examination, plans to pur ­ sue postgraduate studies abroad to fulfil his professional aspirations. Appealing words All beautiful expressions have their ori ­ gins in good thoughts. And so is the case with Perin Pudumjee’s calligraphy. Func- Avestan term for good thoughts, she delights in producing enduring word imagery in the Avestan, Gujarati, En- (From left) Kabraji, Gheevala, Sethna, Dr Sam Bhacca and Engineer with the portraitsown firm Humata and devote more time to calligraphy. Realizing that she needed professional tutelage, for over two years Poona-based Pudumjee has been train ­ ing under Achyut Palav of Bombay, one of India ’s leading calligraphers and an internationally recognized artist. The progres.s of her talent wa.s mir- LadlCS Oil IcaSPCl land rored at an exhibition held last year at the Bal Gandharva Kala Dalan after which she ha.s been accepting calligra ­ phy orders for corporate philosophy statements, inspirational quotations, shlokas, prayers, monograms and pcr- sonal/corporale stationery, invi­ tation card de­ signs, inscrip ­ tions for certifi ­ cates and books. The tools used are mainly the bamboo reed, rope, brushes, metal nibs and the steel/coir Pudiimjee: writing pen. Advertis- made beautiful ing, jewellery design, fashion and interiors are other avenue.s 31-year-old Pudumjee hopes to explore, notes a press release. Presently she i.s offering Zoroaslri- ans the opportunity of having an origi ­ nal, exclusive, hand-written copy of the Ashem Vohu, Yatha Ahu Vairyo and Yenghe Hatam prayers in the ancient Avestan language along with the En­ glish version which could be framed for the home or presented as precious gifts. Citing another application for calligra ­ phy, Pudumjee recommended that chil- 16 Parsiana April 1999 dicn be exposed to this iirt form. She Bombay in 1908 was overwhelmed by was quoted in The Times of India of ' March 19, 1998, “Forthem learning to write is usually a drudgery. Calligra ­ phy shows that writing can be enjoy­ able, beautiful and creative. ” the grand welcome given to her in the Town Hall by the society ladies, notes a write-up in The Economic Times of ianu- ary 5. The sum of Rs 8,000 left after the ceremony was kept aside for a ladies ’ cause and a request was made to the governor for land to start a club named after her. This request being granted, the In male-dominated Indian society, the ; " “ ' all-ladies Princess Victoria Mary (PVM) Gymkhana for working, non-working .................. ¦ ¦ ¦ and retired women started in 1909 and for a long time male guests, including husbands, were not allowed in. On sub- Gymkhana which i.s well patronized by many Parsis ha.s often been in the news. In early .January articles and photos of thi.s old-world institution were carried sequent reconsideration, males as guests were permitted but even now Mondays are reserved exclusively for females. ig by leading Bombay dailic.s expressing concern over the fate of the Gymkhana. The lease of the two-acre club grounds granted by the Governor of MorC murclcrS Bombay in 1909 and renewed in 1939 In the course of a single week in mid expired on December 31, 1998, as per February, two Parsi ladies were found news reports. Until a fresh application murdered in their respective flats in lor a lease of the land is made by the Bombay. Both of them were spinsters, Gymkhana or any other parly, the land automatically reverts to the collector, the superintendent of land records was quoted in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier of January 5. According to their report, the club which currently pays Rs 10,000 to the collector a.s rent has about 250 members who patronize the facilities of dining hall, card room, billiard and snooker room, table ten­ nis, badminton and library facilities. When Parsiana sought to confirm the lact.s with the PVM office bearers, we were told that the news reports were lull of inaccuracies but they did not wish to discus.s the issue with the Press. This Gymkhana derive.s its name from Princess Victoria Mary, mother of King George VI, who on a visit to leading a retired life and staying alone in their respective second-storey flats. While year-old Mehroo Coo- verji Jussawalla was brutally stabbed to death in her flat at Jussawalla: Cama Terrace in profound knowledge the posh Photo: Arnavaz S. Mama 63- Dr SlhlJ -J ^4 h t Altamount Road locality on Feb ­ ruary 17, 75-year-old Dr Maki Ardashar Master was found gagged on the sofa of her living room at Contractor Building at Tardeo on February 22, according to news- paperreports. Jussawalla ’s body was found by her maid servant who, when reporting for work on the morning of February 17, found the main door of the flat partly open, mentions a write-up in The Tinies of India of February 18. Stabbed with a sharp instrument, she had deep gashe.s on her body. Master ’s murder came to light after the servant who reported for work in the afternoon found no response to the repeated ringing of the doorbell. She alarmed Master ’s neighbors who subse­ quently contacted her relatives who stayed in the neighborhood. Around 8 p.m. the relative.s accessed the flat through the second entry to find Master dead, notes a family source. Master was attached to a municipal dispensary before she retired in 1984 PVM Gym: benevolent giftand spent most of her retirement time visiting close friends and relatives, states a report in The Times of February 24. In early March the police declared that they had nabbed the killer, 3()-year-old Ramcsh Pawar from his hideout in Deolali. The alleged killer who was formerly employed on the third floor of the building had been missing since the incident and reportedly admitted his guilt a.s mentioned in The Times of March 5. According to a family source, Pawar had confessed to the police that he had entered the house through the balcony door after climbing the scaf ­ folding, and throttled the woman with a piece of cloth. He then hid the body underneath a sofa-cum-bed and de­ camped with the booty which was sub ­ sequently recovered from him. .Tussawalla's killers had not been nabbed until March 22 and even the motive for the murder has not been ascertained although interest in her case was greater among the general public as the former head of the English depart ­ ment at Elphinstone College had taught countless student.s who much respected her during the 32 years she was associ ­ ated with the institution. A condolence meeting in her honor was held by the College on February 19. The principal scholarship, ” noted the Mid-Day article by Sujata Chakraborty. In the autumn of her life she chose to make a study of Marathi and Shivaji ’.s life and she was looking forward to the publication of hermanuscript on Shivaji. Following these two murders, the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet met six police inspectors on February 23 who advocated the implementation of additional security measures for se ­ nior citizens staying alone, reported B. S. Tarapore in an article in the Jam-e- Jamshed of March 21. In case of emer ­ gency the telephone numbers listed here could be of help. Main control room; 100, 2621855, 2620903, 2625020; Gamdevi police station; 3083505, 3804505, 3802912, 3800505; South re ­ gion control room; 3089855, 3070505. Yet another outcome was the cre- of the College Dr Nisha Pandit de­ scribed her as a “karma yogi, sheer hard work is what she believed in and lived by...She wa.s a woman of great experi ­ ence and profound knowledge in the profession. And people listened lo her... ” Known lo have an imposing physical presence, always immaculately draped in a sari with manners to match, her kindness and depth of knowledge was appreciated by the faculty and students. Reminiscing of her “reverberating hearty laughter" as well as her “thun­ dering indignant roar," Zarine Mino- chehr-Homji Pinto of the English de- parlinent revealed Jussawiilla ’.s special fondnes.s for rich desserts. “Her years here laid a strong founda ­ tion for the rest of us," acknowledged Dr Soonu Kapadia, the present head of the English department. “A more thor ­ ough and painstaking teacher I have yet ation of a corpus fund generated by the to come across. .She even coached stu- dent.s for the Cambridge entrance ex­ amination studied al Oxfortl as well as Harvard). A predominantly Parsi locality was no strict disciplinarian, the rest of us held her in awe," Kapadia was cjuoled in the Sunday Mid-Dax of February 21. “Her annotated work on Spencer'.s The Fairie (diieeiie prescribed for the A levels ex­ amination is proof of her erudition and as a special cKlra (having residents of Kashinath Street (where Master lived) to barricade the colony with barbed wire, realizing that their longer a safe haven. As stated in an article in The Times of Indici of March 15, R.s 55,()()() have already been pledged towards this cause. Compiled by Parinaz M. Gandhi MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER Executive Secretarial Course Private Secretarial Course Personal Assistants ’ Programme (Working Stenographers) Office Assistants ’ Course Computer Packages Shorthand Typewriting: English, Hindi, Marathi Telephone Operating-cum-Receptionist Techniques English Conversation & Writing Skills Interview Techniques Personality Development Business Etiquette Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) Contact us for: Job Placement & In-Company Training Programmes c'C'er^ Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001 YEARS Tel; 2871058/2844329, Fax; 2871185, E-mail; jjcc@bom5.vsnl.net. in Web address: http://IMCnet.org/as.sociations/jjcollegeSEMINAR Dreams from the dais The speakers at the XII All India Zoroastrian Youth Seminar at Jamshedpur advised the youth to pursue dreams with faith and confidence Dare to dream. And dare to nurture your dreams into reality. This seemed to be the constant refrain of several speakers at different sessions during the course of Zest ’98, the XII All India Zoro ­ astrian Youth Seminar held in Jamshedpur from October 22 to 25, 1998. The three-fold objectives of the Seminar — social, educa ­ tional and recreational — were met by including in the proceed ­ ings a panel discussion, group discussion.s on various topics of interest to the youth, talk.s by prominent members of the com­ munity, debates, slide show, quiz, games and water sports, sightseeing and trekking, and of course music and dance which saw maximum participation from 127 youngsters who had gathered from near and far. Youth con­ tingents had come from Agra, Ahme­ dabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bom­ bay, Calcutta, Dahanu, Gurgaon, In­ dore, Jamshedpur, Jhansi, Madras, Nagpur, New Delhi, Poona, Secun­ derabad, Surat and Thana. At the inaugural session guest of honor Mehli Mistri, the then chief ex­ ecutive officer for India and general manager. South Asia of ANZ Grindlays Bank, stressed the need to nourish dreams* with the requisite education, courage and hard work rather than blame the government or corruption for their non- fulfilment. From among the galaxy of seven speakers who analyzed the panel dis ­ cussion topic: “Zoroastrian,s have lost their spirit of entrepreneurship, ” at least four speakers made direct reference to dreams. Executive Chairperson of Thermax Limited, Anu Aga advised young Zoroastrians to have dreams, be constantly innovative, have tremendou.s patience in overcoming hurdles and as ­ sume total responsibility, with faith in their own abilities. 20 Parsiana April 1999 Information and opportunity, both need to blend with motivation to permit background ” should not dissuade young- the fulfilment of one’s dreams, pointed out Marazban Patrawala, the Zoroas- no ideas, not being from a business Bodhanwala (left) and Dadiseth at the valedictory function sters, he stated, adding there is “a small part of J. N. Tata within all of us. We just have to look for it.” Life i.s a journey, said Numazar Mehta, managing director of Sei vel Van ­ tage, advocating the need to take risks and venture out on one’s own. The funds at our commu­ nity’s disposal should be put to optimum use, he opined. Go where opportunity beckons, urged architect Rustom Hathi. A mentor who can open doors would be very valuable to an upcoming entrepreneur, he de­ clared and referred to a “manager entrepreneur ” who operates within a company. The points raised by the speakers proiupted young members of the audience to narrate their personal experiences, whether a job was secure or starting out on one’s own was the right decision. “There have been many in the com­ munity whose vision for India and for their fellow men, as well as their com­ mitment and determination to achieving their lofty goals continue to be an inspi ­ ration, ” noted Dr Jamshed Irani, KBE, managing director of The Tata Iron Irian representative on the National Minorities Commission. He revealed that during his younger days the goal wa.s to find employment and be secure. It was presumed that a Zoroastrian would cither join the Central Bank of India or the Tatas. No risks, no gains, believed Jamshed andSteel Company Limited (TISCO), in Dotivala, the owner of Surat ’,s famous Dotivala Bakers and Confectioners. In­ stead of pampering their children, par ­ ents should allow them to pursue their dreams, he added. The making of an entrepreneur has seven ingredients, listedNaushadBhag- wagar who deals in the supply of lime­ stone and other quarrying material. The first in his list was dreams, followed by resolve, belief, persistence and patience, sacrifice, goals and objectivity. Think small and start small was the message from Rukshad Bhagwagar who started a business in furniture and artefacts in 1991 and is today an ex­ porter to over 20 countries. “No money. his message carried in the souvenir re ­ leased on the occasion. “I am confident that the deliberations at the forthcoming Seminar will encourage our young men and women to be guided by the values of such noble people and to commit them­ selves to making our country, and ulti­ mately the whole world a better and a more joyful place for all. ” On the strength of our merit should we succeed and not on the basis of reservation quotas, advocated chief guest Cushrow Irani, editor-in-chief and man ­ aging director of The Statesman, at the inaugural function. He reminded the gathering of the customs and practices prevalent among the community and21 Parsiana April 1X19 (Clockwise from top) At the voledictory function (from left): Pervez Irani, Podhanwala, Dadiseth, Karanjawalla, Mnneherji and J. Irani; exhibits Io familiarize visitors on the success story of Jamshedpur Photo: Nawaz Palkhiwala; and entertainment following the inaugural function’I. ii in progress: (below) a section of the audience with Surti (left) and Aga (right) Photos: Nawaz Palkhiwala a i. announced that he was proud to be Zoroastrian and an Indian. The chief guest at the valedictory I function, Keki Dadiseth, chairman of I Hindustan Lever, counselled the youth I to be faithful to their religion and to their | society by maintaining a high standard of individual values and never compro ­ mising on principles. Success al way.s goes to those who do not care to whom the credit goes, observed Dadiseth, rec ­ ommending that “Religion is not a pas ­ sive detachment; we must use it to solve the problems of society. ” A dose of adventure was accommo ­ dated in the second day ’s schedule with Lt Gen Adi Selhna, president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, showing a film on the armed lorccs prefaced by introduc ­ tory remarks and culminating in a lively question-answer session. Later in the evening captivating slides of Ml Everest were shown by Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman atop the world's highest peak. To familiarize the delegates with the success story of Jamshedpur, a trip to TISCO and TELCO (The Tata Engi­ neering and Locomotive Company Lim­ ited) was organized on the second day. Sir Dorabji Trust director Russi Lala ’s talk that same afternoon “made Jamselji Tata and J. R. D. Tata come alive, now that we’ve seen what they created, ” remarked one of the delegates. “I am sure you all will realize and appreciate that in organizing such an event on an all-India basis, the organiz ­ ers have to put in real hard work for months together...Please remember that year alter year the cost of organizing such seminars has increased tremen ­ dously, ” mentioned Porus Karanjawalla, president of the Federation of Zoroas- Irian Youth Associations of India, be ­ fore urging the delegates “to show your appreciation of the hard work the orga ­ nizers have put in by please being punc­ tual, and being physically and mentally present...No bunking please. ” Despite the pleas, there was poor attendance for the jashan, the group dis ­ cussions and the debates although the organizers had come up with thought- provoking topics. Among the subjects chosen for the post-lunch group discus ­ sions on the first day were: “What are the reasons for the decline in our popu­ lation and what remedial action i.s re ­ quired? ” “Are Zoroastrian women more (Top) Jamshedpur children educated than the men?” “Is conversion necessary for the community to sur- I p eiifert(iiniiig ^i;iieiits cit the valedictory function. (Center) Group discussions 22 Parsiana April 1999i the flight to India and subsequent visits to Iran to ascertain the condition of the Jamshedpur ’s ace archer, 13-year-old survivors there; the modern Zoroastri ­ ans. As one awe-struck delegate summed it up, “If we knew even half as much about Zoroastrians as Mr Mukherjee, we could be great again. ” Due to the unseasonal rains, the inau ­ guration could not be held at the JRD Tata Sports Complex as scheduled al ­ though the entertainment pro ­ gram directed by Renuka Singh helped enliven the function. It wa.s a relief to the organizers that the closing ceremony could proceed at the venue announced. Amag- nificent mock stained glass vive?” “Is the social conscience of the community declining?” “Should our piayei s be in a language which is under- Jamshedpur entrepreneur Gautam Minu Dastur, chairman and managing stood by the Zoroastrians of today ?” Mukherjee ’s talk on the history of Zoro- director of M. N. Dastur and Company, Why are our youngsters unwilling to astrianism. He analyzed the subject in was the chief guest at the inauguration move out of their hometowns/cities and three phases; the ancient times in Persia; when five balloons representing the five stiike out to fresher fields for work and/ the flight to India and subsequent visits teams were burst with five arrows by or marriage? ” “Is our youth being alien ­ ated from Zoroastrianism by adult.s who cling to extreme orthodox views? ” The two post-lunch debates on the second day also suffered from a lack of participants and audience although the topics “Today ’ s youth give more impor ­ tance to money than values ” and “Zoro ­ astrians lack unity within the commu­ nity” led to impassioned speeches from those who put forth their arguments. Over40dclegate.s had pre-registered for each debate but eventually only I Oto 12 participated, with over 80 percent of the teams constituting Jamshedpur mem­ bers. It appeared that the opposition to the motions got the upper hand. The best attended ¦jwaM™ event was undoubtedly the antaksliari (which tests the participant ’,s music repertoire) on the evening of the second day which had 29 enthu­ siastic three-member teams, reduced to six af ­ ter an elimination round. Organized on the lines of the Zee TV program, the first prize was won by the Sohrabjee team, with Pallonjee coming in sec ­ ond and Dorabjee third. For the quiz too there was a written elimination round. The 30 teasers covered a wide range of topics. Among the questions posed was: “The French call this dish, ‘Potato lyonnaise; ’ by what name do the Parsis call it?” The answer 10 this, ‘vagharela papeta, ’ was intimated subsequently. Ultimately eight teams were selected for the finals. Thanks to the late night dinner and • dance which was the staple fare for the sociable youths, many were not able to arouse themselves in time to visit the TISCO and TELCO factories on the morning of October 24. However the same schedule the following night did not deter them from making it to the water sports at Dimna Lake on October 25. The second option of trekking up the 3,000 ft Dalma Hill that last morning wa.s availed of by only I 3 delegates. After the fun-filled morning, in the afternoon the delegates were treated to pentangular match in Jamshedpur. Dr Jamshedpur entrepreneur Gautam Mukherjee ’.s talk on the history of Zoro ­ astrianism. He analyzed the subject in Calcutta had come to participate in the Yazneen Rana. “Jamshedpur ’s Youth Seminar would be the benchmark for future seminars, ” was the compliment well received by Jamshedpur ’s able but not youthful (the youngest also being on the wrong side of 30) organizing team. As Dr J. Irani had pointed out in his welcome speech there were only 300-400 Zoroas ­ trians remaining in Jamshedpur today as many youngsters pre ­ ferred to migrate to the so-called modern cities. The Jamshedpur Parsec Associa ­ tion under the ac ­ tive leadership of Daisy Irani and Bailey Bodhan- wala had taken the onu.s of organizing the Seminar, it was intimated in an earlier press re ­ lease. Nearly 60 members from Jam ­ shedpur had shared the responsibilities of the Seminar and as acknowledged the organizing secretary Sarosh Mun­ cherji, “Every person ’.s contribution was invaluable for the event. Each and ev­ ery detail was given the same high degree of attention which was one of the reasons for the smooth running of the Seminar. ” The chairman of the Jamshedpur Parsee Association Bodhanwala ’s note of optimism in his message carried in the souvenir could be construed as a rationale for the considerable energy and funds invested in this meet: “A seminar of this nature will, I am sure, provide a forum to both forge stronger bonds within our younger generation and to build bridges of mutual under ­ standing between generations, thereby t*. .WMsHUi .i mni r iSHHO* MH) Top: Set/iiia (ri^lil) felicitating Pal Photo: Nawaz Palkhiwala J. Irani presenting memento to C. Irani (left) as Mistri looks on backdrop had been specially created for the occasion at the Sports Complex by one of Jamshedpur ’ ,s most talented young Parsi teachers and her band of helpers. The last evening was a time for retro ­ spection and among the criticisms lev­ elled were the “overly packed programs ” and “lack of time to get to know each establishing a common platform to other on a one-to-one basis. ” For the hosts, the challenges were greater as three day.s prior to the Semi­ nar they were busy with the XIII Jiji Irani Cricket Championship when teams from Nagpur, Secunderabad, Surat and evolve solutions to the problems of the community.” This compilation was possible thanks to inputs from Sarosh and Nawaz Palkhiwala of Poona, and Silloo Surti and Sarosh Muncherji of Jamshedpur. 25 Parsiana April 1999OBSERVATIONS Ethical editions Through his two publications Prof Sorab Saedri reinforces that ultimately it is ethical organizations and managers who succeed Neville Bastawalla en we talk of ethics, the image of cases which he co-authored with A. K. who writes very eloquently about the od, holiness, religion etc comes to Sinha and Peter Bonnerjee, uses the common man in a language that the our mind. This is not always the case medium of the .short story for sociologi- common man cannot understand. ” since ethics can be seen from a scien- cally analyzing real life situations from Sohrab Godrej, the doyen of Indian tific viewpoint as well. There is a great eastern India. It was published in 1998 business and industry, has written the paucity of professors of ethics in Indian by Tata McGraw Hill and is priced at Rs foreword to this book. The authors could business schools today. To date, there ...............................“ are principally two schools of thought on business ethics in India; one headed by Prof Sorab Sadri of Bombay and the other by Prof S. K. Chakraborty of Calcutta. Sadri is the ultimate logi­ cal rationalist who analyzes the outside world to under ­ stand how and why man is what he is within himself. Chakraborty is the classical spiritualist who wants man to Sadri: ultimate look within himself to under- logical rationalist stand the outside world more clearly. Incidentally, the mother disci ­ pline of both scholars is economics and both have a high intellectual regard and personal respect for one another. They both have scant regard for fundamen ­ talism of any sort, treating it as anti ­ intellectual and antisocial. Sadri, who is the author of two book.s and 75 papers on a variety of topics connected with economics and ethics, has founded the Praxis School of Thought on Business- Ethics, elaborat ­ ing on how managers respond in the ___ .......... ................ . face of an ethical dilemma. A product objective criterion (ability), so too is of both the Xavier Labor Relations In­ stitute and the London School of Eco­ nomics and Political Science, Sadri is professor of human resources manage ­ ment and business policy as well head of the research wing at the N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Stud­ ies and Research, Bombay. This write-up is a critical review of Sadri ’s work that is specifically based on two of his recent books on the sub ­ ject of ethics. The two books are dia ­ metrically opposite to one another in their appeal and method. The first, en­ titled Business Ethics Concepts and case Cases which he co-authored with A. K. Sinha and Peter Bonnerjee, uses the medium of the short story for sociologi ­ cally analyzing real life situations from eastern India. It was published in 1998 as 26 Parsiana April 1999 350 in hardback. The second book is entitled The Theory and Practice of ¦m Managerial Ethics and is co- authored with D. S. Dastoor and S. Jayashree who are at- tached to the National Insti- tute of Industrial Engineer- ing in Bombay. Published by ¦ JAICO in 1999, the hardbound edition of this book i.s priced at Rs 825. In this age ' criminalization of politics and the politicization of crime go hand-in-hand, the subject matter of the books is of topi­ cal interest. So great is the interest that the second book has been sold out de­ spite the price tag bein^ reading habits fast dyin, Let it be said that Sadri ’s first book is not about business ethic.s as such and the title is very misleading. Ethics, how­ ever, is built into each of the 50 cases with the central theme being the indus ­ trial man, his goal, role, accountability, desires and wisdom. Just as in econom­ ics, choice is based on a subjective criterion (willingness) as well as the not have found a more worthy person to start the treatise with, because Godrej is not just an ethical captain of industry or a Gandhian who has made business history, he is managerial ethics personi ­ fied. The distinction between values and ethics on the one hand, and between business ethics and managerial ethics on the other is important. Unfortunately, both are used synonymously in modern when the journalism and while being aware of the fact, the authors do not clearly at ­ tempt to separate the two. The distinc ­ tion must be gleaned by reading in between the lines since the authors as ­ sume that the reader is aware of this. ’Values are based on one’s innate belief so high and system and therefore it is a thought­ based concept. Ethics are behavioral norms or patterns that spring from one’s view of good and bad, right and wrong. It is an activity-based concept. Busi ­ ness ethics deals with policy consider ­ ations founded on an organization ’s values and core beliefs. Managerial eth­ ics treats the managerial response at the time of decision-making and decision executing when faced with a dilemma'. This moot distinction is important to ethical judgment: a consciou,s choice understand if the reader is to fully com­ prehend the message of the second book. The authors seem to take the reader ’s innate knowledge on this score for 1999, ¦o ig 'g- based on the heart and the mind re ­ sponses. The use of lucid prose makes the book very easy to read and there is a fear that the style may eclipse the granted and it is there that they err. message unles.s the reader is alert. This “ book uses case studies to put forth message that in the long run managers cepted? what we are producing is per ­ sons who toe the line rather than those who blaze a trail. They argue that a Veer Nariman, a Bhikaiji Cama, a J. R. D. Tata, a Sorabjee Bengalee, a Dada- bhai Naoroji, a Sam Manekshaw, a Homi Bhabha, a Naoroji Godrej and a continued on page 50 a Their research concluded that in the craving need to conform and be ac- and organizations that succeed are the ethical ones. The heavy style of the second book keeps it out of reach of the common man ’s understanding. As was once quite rightly remarked about Sadri ’s academic work; “He is the professor ’s professorZOROASTRIANS ABROAD The making of an anjuman The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe embody 138 years of community history in London Arnavaz S. Mama “This cemetery i.s now for the Parsi.s of the United Kingdom, and in Europe, at once a Paradise and Elysium... I hope it will henceforth become for you all a center in this country of your national unity... You Parsis should live with your dead here, not only in your sorrow.s but in your joys..." Sir George Birdwood loshty. had addressed the Zoroaslrian congre ­ gation as he dedicated the relaid Parsi cemetery at Brookwood at the bidding of Lady Jerbai Wadia on June 26, 1901. The erudite architect and landscape artist, well versed in Zoroastrian history and tradition had been assigned, simul ­ taneously. the task of creating a mauso ­ leum for the late Sir Nowrosjee Wadia and he and his team not only recreated Cyrus' tomb in Pasargadae for Wadia but revamped the cemetery with gates reminiscent of Persepolis and planted the grounds with a wealth of Persian flora to commemorate the long racial memory of the original Iranian Aryan homeland of Jamsheed. It still gladdens the heart to walk through the beautiful grounds — a part of a giant complex of manicured graveyards in Surrey, sev ­ eral mile.s out of London. Apart from the Tata.s and the Wadias there lie Shapurji Saklatvala (Saks), the Europe leased a 2,500 sq yard plot there third Parsi in the British Parliament. Numerous Zanzibarians lie at rest: Keki Madon, the first speaker of the Zanzibar State Council after its independence; Jamshed Dastur, registrar ofthe Zanzi ­ bar High Court; Jivanji Jasavala, it.s so ­ licitor general; also Surrosh K. R. Cam a ... Near the end ofthe century, in 1998, Brookwood was once again the center of community attention as the London Zoroastrians commemorated an exten­ sion to their Sagdi — a project con­ ceived and executed by the ZTFE's (Zoroastrian Trust Fund.s of Europe) Brookwood Committee under Filly Maravala between spring and summer and inaugurated with a jashan on Fravardigan day. The original chapel wa.s proving too small for the incrcas ing needs of the community. The new biingli i.s double the size of by the High Court in 1981 resulted in the the old, lurnished with new lurniturc, al Company ceding the freehold ofthe a cost £ I 8,()()() — £ 14,OOO collected by the community and £ 4,000 gifted by Iranian philanthropist Mehraban Zar- Brookwood for breach of contract in 1979. The outline of the deal worked out Jehangir memorial which had been dam ­ aged by the Company. Thi.s abrogated the earlier agreement of 1946 but meant a personal victory for Captain, who was cxisting land to the association plu.s an additional three-quarter acre for £ 1 only, the reimbursement of all legal costs and expenses of the association The comlort ol the new bungli ha.s plus £ 1,000 in respect of the Cowasji been however at the expense of scarce land. On the anvil is a project to reclaim land (there is a sunken area within the Zoroastrian plot) a.s “we will run out of burial plots in three to lour years time at president by then, as well as for the the most." says ZTFE president Dorab Mistry. Though thi.s will be an expen­ sive proposition, the association expect,s to sell family plots in advance at a higher rate. The House of Talas have also of ­ fered financial support as they wish to see the three Tata mausoleums of Jamselji and his sons Dorab and Ralan, frequently visited by Tata bigwigs, bet ­ ter maintained. Mistry says the Brook ­ wood maintenance fund i.s “quite sub ­ stantial." The Brookwood Cemetery was man ­ aged by the London Necropolis and Mausoleum Company Limited when the Religiou.s Fund of the Zoroastrians of ZTFE. A few more acres of freehold land were purchased in 1984-85. A few short years thereafter, in 1986 Brookwood became the battleground between the community’s liberals and orthodox groups who had become in­ creasingly polarized over the issue of non-Zoroastrian spouses attending the Fravardigan jashan. As the conserva ­ tives won the vote in the association ’s annual general meeting (ACM), non- Zoroastrian spouses who had been tra ­ ditionally attending the jashans and muktad ceremonies were asked to leave the room and bitterness and invective became the order of the day. Thus be ­ gan the practice of separate Fravar ­ digan prayers organized by liberal Noshirwan Cowasjee and conducted by with a special arrangement worked out lorcxclusiveZoroastrian burials in 1863, notes an entry in the minute book of the Captain in the open air come rain br Charitable Fund of the Zoroastrians of Europe 1861 -1 894. By 1944 it came to light that the Company was not honor ­ ing it.s end of the deal and charging exorbitantly for it.s service, and a revised agreement came into force in 1946 a.s the result of legal arbitration. In 1974 the company changed hands just a.s an extension to the Sagdi was being planned with the addition of toilets and electric ­ ity. Then ZTFE president DrShirinbanoo Kutar decided to negotiate for the pur ­ chase of an adjacent plot of land. The laboriou.s ding-dong negotiations, con­ ducted by vice president Shahpur Cap ­ tain, eventually led to the ZTFE suing shine, spurning the use of the Sagdi. This year too, the same practice contin­ ued though the Sagdi was kept open for their use, as per Mistry. However, “Co- wasjee now sends us greeting cards, ” note Mistry and vice president Faroukh Sorab with a smile. The new manage ­ ment team ofthe ZTFE have had no part in the verbal warfare as they were not on the scene in 1986 and the years that followed. But the theme of the battle has been a perennial one in London. The Religious Funds of the Zoroas ­ trians of Europe (Europe/ra Zarathos- tionu Dharanmu Fund) originated in 1861. Spearheaded by Muncherji Hor- 28 Parsiana April 1999¦ : .3' 4 9 i $ 1 13 ¦ , 1 ! w “You Parsis should live with your dead here, not only in your sorrows but in your joys ff fL to R) First row: At the Navroz function, a section of the audience and Ervads Marzban Dastoor, Keki Kanga, Zubin Writer, Homi Desai, Zubin Bhedwar, Jal Karkaria and R. Bhedwar Second row: A view of the dais Third row: Part of the ZTFE committee Sorab, Master, Sethna and Deboo; Mistry and Dalal Photos: Kee Photographies Fourth row: Shirinbanoo Kutar, Captain, Sharokh, M. Zartoshty and Ms SharokJi a I ll I 30 Parsiana April 1999I 'V ’ji? 31 Parsiana April 1999 Clockwise from top left: Navroz jashan ceremony {PMio: Kee Photographies); Farhangi with wife Goli; grave (ft Sir Dorab Tata, entrance to Brookwood cemetery and the Tata mausoleums Photos: Amavaz S. Mamaand our Engineer, 32 Parsiana April 19P9 The Tula niausoleuins (courtesy: Tata archives); (I'if’hr) Reaves at Bi-aokw'ua/l eeiiiefeiy Photos: Arnavaz S. Mama niasji Cania, his Gujarali letter dated August 15, 1S6I noted. “Our people go abroad to several countries for busi ­ ness. When there, each person could give according to his means for reli ­ gious and charitable purposes. This would enable them not only to perform good deeds but also lo live in harmony with one another in good and bad limes. “Currently by the grace of God. we are about 50 — including sludenl.s (who come here for higher studies) number is likely to increase year by year. For this reason, it is essential lo consider Vn’is matter urgently. “If this idea appeals lo you. we can then arrange to meet at some place, listen to one another ’s views and reach a satisfactory conclusion. ” By August 17, Dadabhai Naoroji had given his endorsement. Edulji Nusser- wanji also concurred. The English tran ­ script of page I (dated September 22. 1 S61) of the minute book of the Chari ­ table Fund of the Zoroaslrian.s of Eu­ rope 1861-1S94-—provided [oParsiaiia by the ZTFE’s enthusiastic librarian Malcolm Deboo — reads: “The Zoro- astrian.s residing in England wished to establish a Religiou.s Fund for Zoroas ­ trians of Europe. A general meeting of the local Zoroaslrians was therefore held at 2 p.m. at Mr Cama ’s residence. No 24 Devonshire Terrace, London W2. The following gentlemen were present: “Ardeshirji Khurshedji Wadia, Dada ­ bhai Naoroji, DrBurjorji Dorabji, Edulji Nusserwanji, Jchangirji Burjorji, Ardeshirji Ookerji Engineer, Dr Mun­ cherji Behramji Koholah, Rustomji Khurshedji Engineer, Pirojshah Peshtonji, Dhunjibhai Khurshedji Ratnagar, Rustomji Shahpurji Umrigar, Bomanshah Muncherji Modi, Framji Bomanji Cama, Navroji Cawasji Ponchajina, Muncherji Horma.sji Cama. “Muncherji Hormasji Cama wa.s elected as chairman of the meeting. “The chairman read out a previously prepared draft of articles. After lengthy discussion those present unanimously agreed that the articles, as amended after continued on page 40IBs I iRsif 34 Parsmna Apn! lAP!' iSl^ The School offers vocational training’ in several fields includini^ painting, dancing, weaving, spinning, knitting, carpentry and embroidery All photos by Chetan MistryINSTITUTIONS An act of grace At the Jai Vakeel School for Children in Need of Special Care the youngsters are taught to express their creativity Yasmine Lemos tient teacher who tried different meth­ ods till she succeeded in achieving the desired result. Fifty-five years ago, on Dina ’s eighth elaborates Shastri. Among the facilities birthday, her mother started the School for Children in Need of Special Care in her own drawing room. Situated in her 11 11 vjl 6' two-acre retreat at Sewri There ’s a dance rehearsal in progress. All the planets bow before the creator who blesses them with outstretched hands. There is an amazing grace in every movement of these little chil­ dren. It is hard to believe that they are mentally impaired. The Jai Vakeel School for Children in Need of Special bungalow on Warden Road called Ravi Care is one of the few institutes in the country to admit children with multiple handicaps, says Tehmina Shroff, the di­ rector of the dance drama, who is also the honorary ad ­ ministrative director of the School. From a two-storeyed bungalow on Warden Road, to a sprawling two-acre re ­ treat tucked away in Sewri with an additional wing in the serene suburbs ofBorivli, the School has grown from just two students in 1944 to more than 700 today. “The School started because of my sister Dina who was a very special child,” recalls Shroff. Dina was born on October lO, 1936. Her father, H. M. Vakeel, was a solicitor and her mother, Jai, though a housewife, had foresight and creative ideas. Dina was a pretty baby but within two months, her par ­ ents realized that her development was not as expected. At the age of six months, their friend. Dr R. N. Cooper, identified Dina as a child with Down’.s Syndrome. The Vakeels stoically accepted the news. Dina was allowed to grow at her own pace and participated with the family in everything they did. “We never thought of her as handicapped, ” reminisces Shroff. She played badminton with us and also rode on a horse. Whatever we did, she wanted to do. She was a very sweet-natured girl. ” Jai Vakeel knew that Dina was a special child and needed a special school. So in 1943, a Montessori trained teacher, Katy Cama was requested to teach Dina. She was an excellent, pa ­ tute (which can handle) multi-handi ­ caps like blindness, deafness and cere ­ bral palsy with mental retardation, ” they offer are a school, pre-vocational training center, vocational training cen­ ter, research center, boarding school, community based programs both urban Lodge, this School initially had only and rural, and custodial care. The research center con­ ducts investigation and re ­ search on various aspects of mental health; a special clinic for early intervention therapy and a counselling I center provide guidance and I supportto the parents of such I children; the rehabilitation I center includes a sheltered workshop; a teacher ’s train ­ ing center conducts classes in this highly specialized field; family economic upliftment schemes and out­ reach programs are also beneficial. When a child comes to the School, a precise and detailed study of the indi­ vidual case is conducted and an ex­ tremely comprehensive program for two students, Dina and Nargis Daruwala. The main purpose of the School was to offer mentally backward children the special understanding and individual treatment and development is suggested, attention that they needed. Being the first school of its kind in the country, there were no guidelines in the Indian education system that Jai Va ­ keel could refer to. She read a great deal forearly intervention increases the scope on mental illnesses and corresponded of rehabilitation enormously. The pro- rcgularly with officials from the Vine- land School, Wayne County School, the Office of Education in Washington and the American Association on Mental ducting genetic tests and other research. ” Deficiency. From the equipment used to the very syllabus itself, Jai Vakeel ’s pioneering direction i.s given credit for its relevance even today. “This institute is the largest in India and comparable to any other institution in the world, ” claims Dr (Prof) P. C. Shastri, president of The Research Society for the Care, Treat ­ ment and Training of Children in need of Special Care. “Ours is the only insti- According to Dr Saif Bijliwala, a psy ­ chiatric occupational therapist, “The development program for the children begins right from the age of one month, • gram includes regular therapy sessions, doctors ’ consultations, counselling the parents and, whenever necessary, con- When asked about Parsi students in the School, he commented, “Presently there are 18 Parsi students in our School of whom six have Down’s Syndrome. A systematic study of the incidence of Down’s Syndrome and other mental deformities in the Parsi community has still not been carried out.” Dr Bhanumati Balasubramaniam, acytogenetist, adds, continued on page 55 35 Parsiana April 1999ART COVER STORY Philanthropic painters The refurbished Sir J. J. Gallery opens with an exhibition by India ’s eminent artists for the cause of the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Parsee Benevolent Institution The school walls which had for more than a century displayed the artistic impulses of school children were adorned with the creative insights of S. H. Raza, K. H. Ara, Badri Narayan, M. F. Husain, Gieve Patel, Homi Patel. Laxman Shreshtha and other well-known personalities of the Indian art world. Spotlights es ­ pecially fitted over each paint ­ ing highlighted its bright and mellow tones, lucent lamps placed all the way up the impos ­ ing staircase brought out the : beauty of the bannisters. Comple- menting the school ’.s temporary ’ conversion into an art gallery wa.s the burnished wooden floor, SO with staircase landings thought- fully provided with wooden iH benches for connoisseurs to sit HH and admire the splendor of the mH paintings lining the walls. Along- iHl side the staircase, rivetting at- tention, stood a 30-foot-tall wrought iron chandelier, its 54 baskets ol pure white tuberoses and white gladioli aglow with the myriad lambent divas lining its lower tiers. “It is not just territorial boundarie.s that form a nation. Language and litera ­ ture, artists and litterateurs also make a country, ” mused veteran Gandhitin Dr Usha Mehta, lighting the lamp on Feb ­ ruary 13, 1999 to inaugurate the pre ­ view of The Art of Charity at the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Parsee Benevo­ lent Institution (SJJPBI) (see “Lighting up a landmark," Parsiana. February- March ’99). The exhibition and sale of contemporary Indian art featured the works of 58 of India ’s most eminent painters, some of whom are alumni of the Sir J. J. School of Art. The artists contributed a minimum of 50 percent up to a maximum of 100 percent of the price of their paintings, which ranged from R.s 10,000 to Rs 3,00,000, to die 36 Parsiana April 1999 Hilla P. Guzder cause of the SJJPBI. “The success of this exhibition de- It was Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, first pends on you,” Rustom Jejeebhoy, son baronet, who formalized art education in India for the first time almost 150 years ago by setting up a school of art, al a time w hen ai l was considered little n*. At the Sir J. J. Clcdlery (from left): Jejeehhoy, Deshmukh, Vijaya Deshmiikh. Atiil Dodiya, R. Jejeehhoy and Khamhatta Photo: Hilla P. Guzder more than a pastime for cultured ladies. “Sir Jamscljee Jejeebhoy was a colos ­ sus of his times and enlightened indi­ viduals. agcncie.s and the government should work together to preserve and enhance traditions," remarked Mehta. Nonagenarian Prof P. A. Dhond, ex dean of the Sir J. J. School of Art and ex director of the Maharashtra Government directorate of art. declared how proud he wa.s of hi.s alma mater where he had learnt and matured both a.s an artist and a.s a teacher. Lamenting the plight of art teach ­ ers, he described how he had tried to raise the pay scales and status of art teachers as “art teachers were the lowest paid and least respected" and how many of his (Housing Development Finance Cor- students later won both state and rashtrapati (national) awards. of the present seventh baronet, told the assembled invitees and art lovers. “There was a coterie of gallery owners who backed this show, ” stated Jejeebhoy with Kekoo Gandhy of Chemould Art Gallery being “the backbone of this show. ” Special commemo­ rative medals were presented to Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy. Dadiba Pundole of Pundole Art Gallery (received in his absence by his wife Khorshed), Pherozti Godrej of Cymroza Art Gallery. Nitin Mukadam and others of the Art Sub-Committee who toiled to organize The Art of Charity as a part of the SJJPBI’s sesquiccn- tennial celebrations. Jejeebhoy also thanked SJJPBI trustee and art committee member Minoo Mody for his “confidence and faith in the exhibition even when we were testing the waters. ” Shawls were presented by Sir Jam ­ setjee Jejeebhoy to Mehta and to vet­ eran, octogenarian author Mulk Raj Anand who graced the function despite his frail condition. Medals were also presented to numerous individuals who had contributed significantly to the suc ­ cess of the event. Two days later, the exhibition shifted to the newly refurbished Sir J. J. Gallery at the Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art (situated within the Sir J. J. School of Art complex) with B. G. Deshmukh, chairman of the advisory committee of the National Gallery of Modern Art lighting the lamp amidst an absence of formal speeches. The Gallery, which had been lying in disuse, was renovated with Pinakin Patel Associates giving their services free of charge and HDFC poration) and IDFC (Infrastructure De­ velopment Finance Company) paying37 Parsiana April 1999 lop: The Art of Charity at the Gallery. Middle (left): ba.':-relief of the . first baronet, (ritrltt) Jejeebhoy, Gandhy, R. Jejeebhoy, Mehta and Anand at the SjjPBl Holtom: paintiny.'i aloiyi’ the staircase Photos: Hilla P. Guzder'W With best wishes from Farah & Tanya 39 Parsiana April 1999 the facilitating costs of Rs 10 lakhs to repair the Gallery and print the cata ­ logue. Designed by AyeshaSoonawalla, with processing by Comart Lithogra ­ phers, the elegant catalogue contains details of the paintings as well as brief bio datas of the painters. Well-known sculptor Arzan Kham- batta, whose A Moment in Freedom priced at R.s 30,000 was displayed at the exhibition, wa.s enthusiastic about the restored Gallery. “Its setting amidst an art campus is suitable for exhibi ­ tions. The Gallery should establish a good reputation by holding strong ex­ hibitions at first. It should not become just a place for an artist to display his leftover works. ” Though he has always held hi.s shows at the Jehangir Art Gal ­ lery, Khambatta asserted that he would “love to exhibit ” his work in the re ­ stored Gallery, b ’xplaincd Rustom Jejeebhoy: “When we first approached S. H. Raza, an alumnu.s of the Sir J. J. School of Art, he willingly agreed to donate 100 percent of his three-lakh rupee painting Geslotion to our cause, though artists are often flooded with thi.s kind of request. So we thought we would repair the approximately 2,000 sq ft Gallery and do something for the artists and their alma mater in return as it is the artists who arc really doing the charity, forsaking a minimum of 50 percent of the price. ” The Gallery can be rented for a.s low as R.s 500 per day which i.s a rate, believe the organizers, well within the reach of even the hum­ blest new artist. An added bonus is an adjacent small room with bathroom, also renovated, where an out-of-town artist can reside during the course of his exhibition. At the end of its fortnight-long run, the organizers had sold almost 65 per ­ cent ofthe paintings. “We had tried for an underwriter but did not succeed in getting one.” disclosed Rustom Jejee­ bhoy. “We raised about Rs 13 lakh.s for the SJJPBI and I really can ’t scoff at that kind of money though I wa.s hoping to raise more! ” The future running of the Gallery, however, is in the hands of the govern ­ ment. “We received very good support from the Sir J. J. School of Art authori ­ ties and from Muralidhar Nangare, di­ rector of art. Government of Maha ­ rashtra. We are now hoping that the government nominates or co-opts us on the advisory committee. On our part we wish to make this Gallery a part ofthe regular art circuit," he stated. GLOBE THEATRES Pvt Ltd Established April 3, 1915 Pioneers of Show Business in India for the last 82 years We rededicate ourselves to the ideals we have cherished and practised all along -- namely to show NOTHING BUT THE BEST to our ever increasing number of Patrons Controlling: REGAL BOMBA Y CAPITOL BOMBAY GLOBE CALCU TTA All the above Cinemas have now been equipped with nnioOtBVSTCTBJl Sound SystemTHE MAKING OF AN ANJUMAN continued from page 32 consultation with those present, should be printed and circulated to all local Zoroastrians as well as to Zoroastrians residing in Liverpool and Manchester so that it would enable them to recon ­ sider the draft. Thereafter another gen­ eral meeting should be held in the fol ­ lowing month on Sunday 6 to pass the articles and pass resolutions on other matters relating to the Religious Fund. After passing the resolutions to proceed chair noted that a circular letter appris- as above, the meeting terminated at 5 o’clock in the evening. (Sd) Muncherji Hormasji Cama, chairman, London, September 22, 1861.” Handwritten in Gujarati, the minutes record the dynamism of the venerable ing in a subscription of £ 24.12s to their gentlemen. By their third meeting on October 13, 1861 suggested changes in the draft articles had been incorporated and the first managing committee elected. It included Muncherji Hormasji Cama, chairman, Ardesherji Khurshedji Wadia, Dadabhai Naoroji and Pirojshah wife and the desire to allow his Christian Pestonji, trustees, Jehangirji Burjorji, secretary,DrBurjorji Dorabji and Dhun- jibhai Khurshedji Ratnagar, managing committee members. Cama ’s committee conceived of six at the AGM on October 11,1892 the practice was accepted. By the meeting of May 16, 1908 chaired by Sir Muncherjee Bhownagg- separate funds, viz for the burial of the dead, for helping stranded Zoroastrians to enable them to return to India, for the acquisition of books about Zoroastrian ­ ism, for helping scholars researching ree, the second Parsi to be elected to the Zoroastrianism, for establishing a house of prayer and a general fund for miscel ­ laneous expenses. These six funds were combined into a single fund in 1889 called the Charitable Fund of the Zoro ­ astrians of Europe. The 29th AGM held on October 1890 with Naoroji in the British Parliament, the opinion was that “the Zoroastrian Fund of Europe should be placed on a proper legal basis ” and it was agreed on the basis of D. P. Cama ’s letter that “a clause specially expres ­ sive of limiting the society ’s member ­ ship and beneficiaries to Parsis of the Zoroastrian faith ” be inserted in the legal document. By now the minutes ing one and all about the Fund’s objec ­ tives, with the Brookwood arrangement were maintained in English with im- in place, was distributed widely at the time of the Paris Exhibition when a number of Parsis visited London, result ­ funds. The letter promised subscribers of £ 3 and upwards the right to vote. The 30th AGM in 1891 accepted that non-Zoroastrians could perform sezdo at the funerals, informs Deboo. The oc­ casion was the demise of Dorabji Gama ’s peccable handwriting! There is also a reference to a letter from S. K. Bomonjee on behalf of Ms Wadia who had offered “to defray the expense of all necessary additions and alterations in the chapel ” but that if the committee arranges to do so, “no tablet except that in memory of a deceased Zoroastrian Parsi ” would be put in the chapel. The Parsee Association of Europe was incorporated in 1909 with Bhow- naggree as president, Dorabjee Peston- friends to attend the funeral. Three monthslaterBombay ’sRustomjeeKha- jee Cama, Nusserwanjee Jamaspjee reghat hotly contested the issue and a long correspondence i.s recorded by sec ­ retary D. M. Colah. By a majority vote Moolla and Eduljee Dinshaw as trust ­ ees. The managing committee com­ prised of Moolla as honorary secretary LOST One day a man like you decides it's time tor the finer things of life - maiestic mountains, lush green acres of green forest, sparkling rivers, peace of mind. And that's the day he decides to leave the harsh vapours and stresses of the city behind him, and lose himself with his family in the sheer bliss of Brightland Holiday Village. Do what comes naturally and give yourself the treat of your life. B rightland HOLIDAY VILLAGI HOLIDAY VILLAGE MAH AB ALESH WAR MUMBAI Tel (91-22) 2872590/1 /2/3 Fax (91-22) 2873348 PUNE Telefax 020-220 246 AAAHABALESHWAR Tel: 02168-60700 ............................................................... ............................. Fax; 02168-60707 E-MAIL: brightland@vsnl.com WEBSITE: www.brightlandholiday.comand treasurer (a function he had al ­ ready been long performing) and in­ cluded Framjee Bomanjee Cama, Edaljee Jamsetjee Khory, Rustomjee Limjee Batliboi and Hormasji Dossa- bhoi Cama. Moolla served as hon­ orary secretary for 50 years, a contribution which was recognized by a felicitation held at Cafe Monica under Bhownaggree on Septem­ ber 11, 1917 when Moolla was presented a purse of Rs 6,000. Bhownaggree himself continued as non­ contested president of the Association for 25 years. For the purpose of registration the articles of association declared that the Mcrwanji Dalal on his appointment as members of the Association inclusive of life and ordinary members be limited to 1,000. Only Parsis of the Zarathushtrian faith were qualified to be so. The three trustee.s — who had to be life members — were appointed for life. Theminutes of April 20, 19IOrecord a reference to a letter from R. D. Tata who had inquired whether a non-Parsi who might be aeon verted Zarathushtrian could be interred at Brookwood. It was decided to write to Naoroji, “the sole survivor of the original founders of the Association whether the benefit.s and rights of the body should be limited to Zarathushtrians who were originally Parsis ” or not. On June 13,1923 honorary secretary R. R, Desai was writing to Dr J. J. Modi, secretary of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), to advise “whether a non-Parsi wife of a Parsi, believing in the Zoroas ­ trian faith, i.s entitled to participate in strictly religious functions of our com­ munity, and more especially if, in the unfortunate case of the decease of such a person, her remains would be entitled to be treated in Bombay ’s Kaiser-i-Hind. In a series of the same way as that of a Zoroastrian Parsi... and also in the case ot the children of leged that the Association had failed such union.” Predictably, Modi replied in the nega ­ tive for the wife but permit ­ ted the children “provided such children have been brought up as Zoroastrians. ” At the Jamshedi Navroz banquet that year at the Savoy Hotel, the Association congratulated Dadiba Lord Chief Justice ’s Court returned a verdict in favor of The Parsee Associa ­ tion of Europe, and awarded it £ 1,000 in compensation in its case for libel against Dr Ardeshir Dadabhai Jilla and Erachshaw R. Heerjibehedin of articles in November and December 1927 and January 1928 Jilla had al- properly and honestly to carry out the objectives for which it was founded. The November 27 article was titled “A fluff of autocracy in a sea of democ­ racy. ” The Association contended that by presenting it in poor light its sub ­ scriptions and donations from India would be affected. It was also the Association ’s case that Heerjibehedin had made no attempt to verify the truth of Jilla ’s allegations and Jilla himself had “admitted that every statement he had made about the Association was the High Commissioner for India. He had succeeded William Meyer accord ­ ing to Deboo ’s research. Also felici ­ tated was Mitha Tata, “not only the first groundless. At the time of writing the Parsi but the first Indian woman to be called to the British Bar, ” according to the Association ’s annual report. The Law Report of The Times, Lon­ don of July 5, 1928 records that the ZOROASTRIAN HOUSE 88, COMPAYNE GARDENS, LONDON, N.W.b, WAS OPENED ON SATURDAY 6® SEPTEMBER 1469 ROZ ADAR MAH FARVAROIN YZ tS^ BY Nadirshah RMlilla Esq baxlb. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PARSI PAMCHAYAT. BOMBAY articles, he added, he was in an ‘irri ­ tated mental condition,”’ reported The Times. Interestingly, the Association ’s solicitors. Bull and Bull, were the same who had drafted its memorandum and articles in 1909. According to the Association ’s re ­ port for 1943-44 the trustees of the Cursetjee Maneckjee Shroff Agiary in Bombay had proposed the transfer of their sacred fire and funds amounting to £ 5,500 to establish an agiary in London. A special general meeting on March 5, 1944 under the chairmanship M 1 Maravala (top); inaugural plaque, kehla and dining hall at Zoroastrian House ¦jj vfn 42 Parsiana April 1999of Jehangeer Cowasjee Jehangeer dis ­ cussed various options and adjourned sine die. At their ACM on October 29, 1944 it was resolved that unless they could raise £ 50,000 to buy a property in London for £ 6,000 with the balance invested to yield an annual income of £ 1,200, the project should be given up. By the end ofthe year they had declined the Shroff Agiary offer as they could not raise the necessary funds. The first Communal House had been established in a leasehold property at Cromwell Road through voluntary con­ tributions and patronage. In 1929 the Association moved to a freehold prop ­ erty it purchased on Russell Road in Kensington. It ceased to be adequate for the burgeoning post-World War II com­ munity and thanks to the ball set rolling by president JehangirMoos, on Septem­ ber 6, 1969 the new Zoroastrian House Europe Incorporated and to transfer the at Compayne Gardens was inaugurated by BPP chairman Nadirshah Mulla. In the 60s as in the 9()s, it was a controver ­ sial move, informs Deboo. Among those who opposed it were Sarosh Khajotia, Cyrus Mehta and Faridoon Madon, ac ­ cording to Deboo. The most significant development in the new Zoroastrian House was its cen­ terpiece — the Setayash Gah. donated by Dastur (Dr) Sohrab and Dr Shirin- banoo Kutar — the closest that the Zoroastrians of Europe have come to a place of worship. A grateful community had earlier acknowledged Kutar'.s de­ voted service over the years (he banded together the ordained priests and in­ spired them to serve the community by performing ceremonie.s for which there was ever increasing demand) by ap ­ pointing him their High Priest with the (WZO). With the aplomb of Dadabhai consent of the dasturs of India at a spe ­ cial general meeting on October 25, 1964 and followed it up with a shawl presentation ceremony. By 1982 even the considerably larger Compayne Gardens premises were un­ able to meet the needs ofthe community and since the resources were inadequate to allow a move to a newer property, an extension was built and inaugurated on March 21, 1983 to provide larger as ­ sembly and dining space, thank.s to the largesse of Arhab Rustam and Morvarid Guiv and of Faridoon and Mehraban Zarloshty. With an increasing influx of Iranian Anjumans of India to join it, to no avail. Zoroastrian.s the community had opted to change the name of the Association from The Parsee Association of Europe 43 Parsiaria Apri! 1999 to the Zoroastrian Association of Eu­ rope (Incorporated) at a special general meeting on August 8, 1971. In both cases the Association was legally a lim­ ited company with its assets subject to tax. “Thi.s situation became more harm ­ ful to the Association progressively from 1973 onwards, ” records Homage to Zaiathiishtra, a brochure published by ZTFE in 1983. Under the presidentship of Shirinbanoo Kutar, Captain initiated the move for charity status. Aftermonths of grueling negotiations with the Board of Trade, Inland Revenue, solicitors and counsel. Captain, then president, called a special general meeting on September 3, 1978 to convince the community of the need to follow the course suggested by the lawyers; to set up a new entity named The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of assets and liabilities ofthe Association to it. After much discussion the special resolution.s were passed unanimously, enabling the committee to effect the change and the Association acquired its tax exempt charity status on February I, 1979. It.s first office bearers were presi ­ dent Captain, trustees Dr Mino Mistry and Nariosang Dhalla, honorary secre ­ tary Ruby Contractor and honorary trea ­ surer Ervad Zal Sethna. Other members of the committee were Shirinbanoo Kutar, Bailey Irani, Jal Modi, Soli Master, Buijor Magol, Ervad Darius Sethna, Meherwan Sepai and Dr Firoze Munshi. Of all of Captain ’s heady achieve ­ ments in community affairs the most controversial ha.s been hi.s founding of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Naorqji and Muncherji Cama, the Cap ­ tain team presented the world with a “world body ” in 1980, one that the rest had only been talking about for 18 years. With London as the first port of call for migrant Zarathushtis fleeing Iran after the fall ofthe Shah, the hastily drafted constitution of the WZO has been the subject of acrimonious debate, equating as it does the rights and privi ­ leges of its individual and association members. For years Captain and his devoted supporters have tried to achieve general acceptance by seeking the BPP and the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian The wealthy Iranian emigrants, on the other hand, provided support not just with words but money. In 1982 the 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 Teaching is not to fill a vase, it is to light a spark... Calling all students French and English tuitions in groups/ individual given by a 16 years experienced teacher Learn conversation and writing skills through the latest revolutionized methods: audio, audio-visual, video, etc Contact: Ms Meher Mistry (M.Phil, Sorbonne University, Paris) A/9, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk Tel: 38703754 4 merits dale back lo the SOs, says lo see the "knowlerige. Lintlerslandin tT Federations Hiah Commission. Lalit Mansingh, the al bv small families and orga ­ nized by Bbedwar, Silloo Jasavala and organization salislying all poinls ol says Deboo. as While participants are asked to bring endowment made by the late Mehraban 44 Parfiiana Aon! 1999 dians in the UK are invited to celebiate their major ethnic festivals al the Indian ''"t <*• ""H Fun Chib for those between the of three and 15 to equip them to challenge ol living in a itucsts are invited at all these Iranian functions and the endow- held followed by the Fravardigan jashan Palan (Shapoorji Pallonji) Mistry^ While participants are asked to bring in some snacks for the table spread altci the Avan parav jashan, the Atash parav Sachs, chief rabi in the UK and a scholar of oriental religions. On the industrial side there was Srichand Hinduja and at Brookwood. Amonii the largest Iranian celcbia- lions the ,lashn-e-Sadch and Jashn-e- Mehergan are financed from a large Si nee the past three lo four years the ZTFE celebrates all the Shahenshahi paravs with a jashan followed by snacks and lea. These are generally funded pieceme nu p?.-'cv jashan, maachi and gahambar sponsored by Beroze Mody and Y. M. Top row (I lo r): Malcoliii Gcridl. director. Sacred Literature 7 rust; Alfred Agiiis. director. Wesliuiiister liiteifaith: Sewah Stewart, editor oj The Middle and Near Eastern Journal; Judy Thwaite from The Centre for Jewish Education and Pandit M. Vairai.;rana. head of the Sri Lanka LLuddlust Saui^ha Sahha of Great Britain. Alongside: Jehanyir Sarosh (left) with Brian Pearce, director of UK’s Interfaith Network — all ZTEE's interfaith invitees Photos: Kee Photographies late Mehraban Farhangi had contrib ­ uted £ 150,000 lo establish The World Zarathushlrian Trust with Captain. Shirinbanoo Kutar and .Shtihrokh Shab- rokh as trustees. Typically, the prodi ­ gious Kerman-born accountant cum businessman cum philanthropist chose lo remain anonymous and it was only al the memorial service after his demise on October 26, 1996 that the origin of the fund was made public by Captain. With the proposal of the new World Council ol Zoroaslrian which seeks lo cap the regional bodies into an identifiable, representatixe unit on the world scene, there was much heart burning about the need lor a sec ­ ond "world body" and parlays are con­ tinuing to metamorphose the WZO into an ( view. If such a denouement come.s to pass, the l.ondon community will have scored a hit in the best traditions ol its long history. Life in Zoroastrian House generally a w i Most weekends and sometimes mid week Zoroastrian House hums with activity. Every Saturday ErvadRuslom Bhedwar leaches kusli and advanced prayers well as navar prayer.s for alhornan boys. The third Sunday in each month Ervad Kcki Kanga attends the Selayesh Gab and anyone is Irec to avail ol his ser ­ vices. The third Sunday of each month from 1 1 a.m. onwards Nilouler Cooper. Rukshana Daruwalla. Rushna Master, Aban Karkaria. AvaJamooji and Darius Karkaria conduct the Children's Edu­ cation ages face the multicultural society. The childien ac ­ quire ¦’knowlciige. unrlcrstanding and conviction ol our ancient Zoroaslrian culture, heritage and religion." as notes the ZTFE quarterly circular dated Feb ­ ruary 2, 1999. ZTFE librarian Malcolm Deboo on the actual day. Other religiou.s events orga ­ nized by the ZTFE are the Shahenshahi Zarathoshlno diso and Homajim No non-Zoroaslrian is allowed at these ceremonies clarifies Deboo. There is V. ailing likl bl'peopiewtrnu ing to contribute for the paravs a.s the function costs £ 75-100 which is easiei forasmall family loafford And for 10 days the muktad prayers are Farhangi. The March 26 Fasli Khordadsal and the Fasli Zarathoshtno diso are similarly endowed by Boman Mobed, an ex trustee of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds even though he has now moved lo Honolulu, informs Deboo. Mehraban and Faridoon Zarloshty provide for Jashn-e- Tiragan in July. Non-Zoroastrian guests are Deboo. There is a move afoot lo raise Iranian funds for other Fasli gahambars, he adds. Plans for Jamshedi Navroz 1999 in­ cluded a traditional “halshean table on display and contributory lunch. The Fasli Khordadsal to which the Shahen- shahis are duly invited was launch of Comrade SAK: Shapurji Saklatvala. MP. 'c\ political biography by Marc Wadsworth. In a move initiated by former Indian High Commissioner L. M. Singhvi, In­ current Indian High Commissioner has continued with the practice. In a func ­ tion jointly organized by the ZFFE and the WZO about 300 Zoroaslrians — 150 from each side — were slated lo celebrate Navroz there followed by a traditional lunch. The ZTFE circular requested a donation of £ 10 per head and the use of ethnic apparel. In keeping with their growing inter- faith activities the Navroz function in- yitaliob UsV this yeaih according to Mistry, included Rabi Dr JonathanSepai is being used aka source of funds for the ZTFE’s new premises as well a.s Bombay ’s Anjuman Atash Behram. Individual families sometimes spon ­ sor a memorial jashan to which the community is invited. The Dastur (Dr) Sohrab Kutar memorial jashan i.s one such event regularly organized by the Kutar family where chasni and refresh ­ ments follow the ceremony. Y oung Zoroastrians — or YZ a.s they are generally known — have their own set of activities, not necessarily restricted to the Zoroastrian House precincts. A group of 15 comprising Rushad Chinoy, Mehrengise Cooper, Natasha Dalal, Taronish Jasavala, Naomi Kazak, Ha- vovi Mehta, Rohinton Munshi, Dinaz Sethna, Gustav Sethna, Ruby Sethna, Shiraz Sethna, Farmeen Sorab, Neville Sorab, Navaz Suratia, Zena Writer un­ der the chairmanship of Kerman Jasa ­ vala, lead the rest of London’.s Zoroas ­ trian youths to the theater, discos and pubs together, cementing a camarade ­ rie that was evident in the efficient organization of the ambitiou.s 10-day program of the Second World Zoroas ­ trian Youth Congress. Most of the younger members of the ZTFE manag ­ ing committee like Perses Sethna, RushnaMaster, DinyarCooper, cut their We never take our guests and breath-taking views for granted iifi Lord’s Central Hotel Matheran 410102 Matheran Telephone 021483-0228 Fax 021483-0595 Bombay telephone 3867776 46 Parsiana April 1999 by the family and supported until mar ­ riage in the case of a girl and until the teejli as YZ organizers, and chairper ­ sons. Perses Sethna had ascribed the success of the Congress partly to the boy is old enough to earn for himself, “bit of style ” that led them to hold the first four days of the parley.s in a five- star hotel. The esprit de corps among them seem.s to have stemmed from the troubled late ’ 8()s when the youth,s made concerted decision to stay out of the Zartoshty brothers. Nearly £ 1,200 worth controversy and attend both sets of func ­ tions and fund raisers, as Master had noted at the post-Congres.s press con­ ference. In his first five years at the library Deboo says he amassed 265 books at a cost of £ 4,000 of which £ 2,000 came from the community when he “passed the box around ” and £ 2,000 from the nal correspondence of the association since the early 1800s is the most pre ­ cious heritage they have. Zoroastrian House is a registered of books have been donated. The collec­ tion covers the gamut of Zoroastrian history and culture, includes biographie.s and autobiographies, and even some It had been a major bonanza when publications on cookery. But the origi- the association had rediscovered its ar ­ chives in the early 198()s. Farokh Vajifdar who had first set up the library then, resigned in the turbulence of 1986 and Deboo became involved, initially place of worship in London and for as a volunteer and later a.s the official conducting Zoroastrian marriages, in­ librarian. He dcscribc.s the ZTFE col- forms Deboo. Mixed marriages how- lection as more of a reference library ever can only be performed in the Angli- CLim information center. For example when a young girl wa.s doing a project on abortion, she approached the ZTFE and Deboo found that the Vendidad has much to say on the subject, not merely India and Iran. “They get more respect chastising the woman but the person who made her pregnant and the people who forced the abortion. According to the Veitdidad, as explained by Deboo, the illegitimate child must be cared for can church, he says. One aspect of the London commu­ nity Deboo emphasizes is that everyone defers to the visiting high priests from here than in any other part of the diaspora. The community gives respect even though it may not agree with everything they say, ” notes Deboo, comparing the high priests to the British monarchy. Dorrabji ’s JERROZ HOTEL Under Cliff Bungalow, Ring Road, near Parsi Fire Temple Panchgani 412805 Phone: (91) (02168) 40238 MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for a 28-year-old boy, MBA from USA, well-settled in Bombay, from a cultured family. Smart, good-looking girls from similar family background may please apply with details and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (April/10-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD “If the community wants a change...” Marginally conservative, the new managerial team at the ZTFE is determined to ignore past controversies “We have decided among ourselves that whoever is president serves for three years and no more. Then, make way, ” says Dorab Mistry, now in his second year as president of the Zoroastrian Trust Fund.s of Europe (ZTFE). Mistry ’s state ­ ment endorses the focus on fresh blood and youthful involvement that now per ­ meates ZTFE management. Vice president and so- ci al secretary Faroukh Sorab, secretary and Young Zoroastrians coordinator Rushna Master, treasurer Adi Bilimoria, house sec- retary Farokh Byramji, li- aison officer Perse.s Sethna comprise Mistry ’s current team of office bearers. 2. Other members of the man ­ aging committee include Rusi Dalal, Filly Maravala, Dinyar Cooper, Ervad Mistry: bringing the Rustom Bhedwar, Mai- cannnunity together colm Deboo and Jimmy Photo: Arnavaz S. Mama Rustumji. In all, one can hazard that the total average age tiiust be on the right side of 50. Mistry ’s mission ha.s been to reunite the once acrimoniously fractured com­ munity of UK Zoroastrians. With that in mind the managing committee consti ­ tuted under him in end 1997 held back from endorsing the proposed World Coun­ cil of Zarathushti Federation.s (WCZF). “We felt our generation hadn ’ t had enough dialogue with the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO). We found that (Mistree) ’s talk on the power of Yatha ZTFE AGM on November 8, 1998. With rightly or wrongly there was a tendency Ahn Vairya we had to literally tell people Bailey Irani retiring at the end of his on the part of those promoting the World not to come. Still, there were over 300 seven-year tenure the managing com- Council to use it as a stick to beat the people jamming the hall, ” Mistry ex- mittee was required to suggest a suitable ' WZO,” Mistry had told Parsiana in Janu- plains the inevitability of the project, incumbent to take his place on the three- ary 1998. Though the current Zoroastrian House at member board of trustees which includes Cavas Sethna and Noshir Avari. The committee homed in onDrFirozeMunshi, a “completely non-controversial (candi ­ date), equally acceptable to the WZO wing of the community,” who was an original signatory to the new ZTFE ar ­ ticles of association in 1978. Though Munshi agreed to stand “after some hesi ­ tation, ” the committee’s endorsement was of £ 600,000 to £ 800,000 for a plot of land. They would prefer to concentrate on the Wembley or Heathrow areas of London where a large number of the tant... People like Dr Shirinbanoo Kutar arc revered; we appreciate the work of Shahpur Captain, admire his organiza ­ tional qualities; we want them back into the ZTFE fold... ” A year later Mistry community resides. The association ’s acknowledged sadly, “The divisions are still there. ” With the Brookwood bungli exten­ sion happily complete, Mistry is con- own investments have gone up to about £ 5,0CX),000 over the past few years as they have moved out of fixed deposits and into shares and successfully handled the port- cerned to get on with the folio to yield a good return, claims Mistry. new premises project. Hop­ ing to receive major fund ­ ing from British national lot­ teries, which have funded among others the second largest Hindu temple out­ side Birmingham to the tune of £ 3.9 million. Mistry be ­ lieves that “as Britain ’.s old­ est ethnic minority, we are Igi eligible. ” There may be cer- 1 i^'i j MT J “If the anjuman endorses it, we could buy plot tomorrow, ” he adds. Another project on the community plate is participation in the spirit zone of the Millennium Dome being put up by the Millennium Experience Company, a joint venture between the UK govern ­ ment and private capital. Zoroastrianism is one of the nine religions to be repre ­ sented there and it is the ZTFE that must provide the input. “Malcolm Deboo and W tain conditions like leaving Rusi Bhedwar are working on whatshould a museum and library open to the public. They will also enforce a time scale, he feels and now the first priority is 'fc be the Zoroastrian involvement,” says Mistry. The spirit zone project alone is estimated to cost between seven and eight million pounds of which the to get the mandate from the community Hindujas have sponsored up to three in a special general meeting. Thereafter it will become possible to acquire a plot of land from the existing resources, in­ cluding borrowing against the present Foundation with its museum of migra- Zoroastrian House property which would be required until the new one is commis ­ sioned. “Our hall can only take in 250 people sitting. Normally (on Navroz and Pateti) plained the imbroglio that surrounded 600 to 700 people turn up...ForKhojeste the election of a new trustee at the last (Mislree) ’s talk on the power of Yatha million pounds, he informs. Yet another institutional project with which the ZTFE is involved is the Asha tion. The first immigrant on record is Ratanji Seth, says Mistry. Acknowledging his committee as “relatively inexperienced, ” Mistry ex- not to come. Still, there were over 3(X) people jamming the hall, ” Mistry ex­ plains the inevitability of the project. Though the current Zoroastrian House at Proud that it was the ZTFE that had Compayne Gardens i.s convenient for spawned the WZO he believed that, given time, WZO would rectify its constitution in all seriousness to make itself a truly representative world body — a line of thinking also pursued by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA). “For us peace and harmony at home are extremely impor ­ those who use public transport, for the increasing number of car owners parking is a nightmare. Over the past couple of years the New Premises Subcommittee has collected £ 300,000 plus they have a pledge for £ 200,000 from Mehraban Zartoshty. Ac­ cording to Mistry they need in the region 47 Parsiana April 1999Rivetna who has been negotiating with provided there was a demand and pres- WZO president Rumi Sethna, i.s “cau- sure for one, if a proper debate takes liously optimistic ” that a single body will place where all sides of the argument aie now be founded. “The ZTFE approach of presented. It would also involve a look at wait and watch of two years ago (has been) justified by events. ...Rivetna has come to the conclusion that WZO India i.s a force to be reckoned with. But (presi ­ dent of WZO India) Dadi Engineer and (managing trustee of WZO India Trust clear that they won’t be a part of the world body without the WZO, London Terming himself marginally “right of center, ” the Pardi born, Bombay edu­ cated son of Tehmi and Erueh Mistry is the chief of Godrej operations in UK and Singapore. A commerce cum law gradu ­ ate, Mistry had stood first among 7,000 community that disrupted Zoroastrian eandidatc.s in his intermediate chartered accountancy exam and seventh of 2,000 in the final. He joined Godrej in 1976 and was transferred to London in 1977 as director of Godrej International, a sub- has been a Londoner ever since with his wife Shehnaz and daughters Tina, Sherie and Roxanne. Brought up in a "staunch Zoroaslrian bchdin family, ” si*- not unanimous, with Mac Dinshaw, a WZO sympathizer and ZTFE life mem­ ber of 37 years winning Rusi Dalal ’.s support. Till the morning of the AGM Mistry i nd his fellow members were unaware that their candidate Munshi lacked one essential attribute of trustee ­ ship — he was not a life member. Unwilling to risk seven years of attri ­ tion in ease Dinshaw decided to use his trusteeship credentials to stall the ZTFE Funds) Dinshaw Tamboly have made it team, they arranged to get fonner ZTFE president Kersi Jasavala nominated from the floor. In the ensuing election, held being part of it.” with utmost decorum according loMistry, Jasavala polled 110 voles to Dinshaw ’.s 70 and was declared elected. Dinshaw raised the issue two day.s later, when he wrote on legal advice to state the election was illegal. WZO’.s Rumi Sethna, Captain and Prochy Colabawalla also wrote letters “protest ­ ing vehemently that I had done wrong by taking nominations from the floor ” be ­ cause the notice for the election had stated that no nominations from the floor sidiary of Godrej Soaps. He would be accepted. “As chainnan I should 1 ' have declared the one remaining candi- s dale as elected,” Mistry quoted the letter- ; writers. Though the committee “took ; protection under the rider that the chairman ’s discretion shall be final and Zoroaslrian Dchdin lamily, *, binding in all events.... We realized it Mistry believes in the conti- was not a fight we wanted to fight, ” says Mistry. Despite holding an insurance policy to cover legal expenses, “we’re not in the business offighting court cases, ” he says. “It i.s very important for the trustees and the president to work to­ gether. The trustees are like our upper house. ” Accordingly, with Dalal ’.s help to diffuse the crisis, they all went to see Dinshaw. “Mae and I resolved it between us on December II, 1998,” informs Mistry, crediting Dinshaw ’.s gracious ­ ness and community concern. The youthful Mistry is becoming adept the community could allow non-Zoroas- at surviving such crises. Two years ear ­ lier, Sheriar Mehani, a managing com­ mittee member vehemently opposed to only Zoroastrian.s should participate in then president Rusi Dalal, had registered a complaint against the ZTFE manage ­ ment with the charity commissioner. Mistry was then treasurer and had to contend with a seven-day notice to sub ­ mit records. “We got a clear ehit but we had to face it,” Mistry recalls the tension of the time. On the theme of a world body of Zoroastrians, Mistry says, “We are now working in close cooperation with FEZANA.” He believe.s that Rohinton n ) nuity of Zoroasti ian rituals, “particularly for the com­ munity overseas... (They) provide a point of focus, re ­ mind you of your origins... Sorah: “live and let Where I have an open mind live’’ i.s whether (it is possible to photo: Arnavaz s. Mama maintain) the same level of purity as the scriptures may have or ­ dained. We have to adapt to where we are. Sometimes we arc fortunate that the law give.s us freedom to perform rituals a.s we wish, give.s u.s a choice.” He says Irian.s to attend some rituals and yet re ­ spect the wishe.s of those who believe that others. “In London the community is not yet ready for conversion. There is no prob ­ lem with the children of Zoroastrian fa ­ thers. The debate in London is about the children of Zoroaslrian mothers. At the moment the ZTFE policy is not to en­ courage navjote.s of the latter. But if the community wants a change, then the ZTFE is a democratic organization. It’s uptolhccommunily to lobby and change liberty to partake in celebrations on that policy. A referendum could be held both sides of the Atlantic. a s m . o' 48 Parsiana April 1999 the important argument as to whether those children eventually practice Zoro ­ astrianism or simply have the navjote and forget all about the faith. I would encourage a statistical survey on the post navjote lifestyle of children of mixed marriages, at least in the UK. If we find even a significant minority where the Zoroastrian line continues, then it would be worth retaining them... Its findings would give guidance to the community.” “We are not carrying any 1986 baggage, ” notes ZTFE vice presidentFaroukh Sorab alluding to the fissure in the London life there for several years. A life member of the WZO along with president Dorab Mistry, the hotel services manager ofthe Great Ormond Street Hospital for Chil­ dren NHS Trust is sure that ZTFE sympa- H ihizers “know that we are ¦ not going to sell them down ¦ the river. ” Like the rest of ¦ his youthful colleagues on I the ZTFE board, Sorab pur- fl sues apolicy of “live and let fl live... Whatever you do in your house is fine, ” refus ­ ing to become involved in the spate of arguments and allegations that had riddled Zoroastrian House politics for nearly a decade. With wife Jesmin an ex­ ecutive at Gulf Air who ha.s given prodigiously of her time on the New Premises Fund Raising Committee, undergraduate daughter Farmeen and senior school going son Neville happily involved in the activities of the Young Zoroastrians, the Sorab household is fully involved with commu­ nity activity in London. “We are all going to Houston. The Zoroastrians there reflect prosperity, ” he says expecting the Zarathushti Od­ yssey 2000 — as the Seventh World Zoroastrian Congress has been billed — to be a very big success. Fortunately, millennium celebrations in the UK are focused on the turn of 1999 to 2000 whereas the US is concentrating on the start of the new millennium in 2001. This has taken quite a lot of pressure off the UK Zoroastrians, giving them the both sides of the Atlantic.ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD ^Projects can bring people together’ 9 During the four years of his presidentship Rusi Dalal endeavored to revive a ZTFE ridden by controversy gious backing, he argued. Dalal was piqued because his rivals in the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) have tried to denigrate the ZTFE as just one of the Zoroastrian associations in London heard and his garrulousness and short fuse have earned him his fair share of detractors, some of them being Iranian. Chary of what he considers Par- siana’s ill-conceived liberal slant, he nonetheless hosted this reporter during and not a representative body, and after the Second World Zoroast ­ rian Youth Congress (WZYC)in 1997 when he was in his fourth con­ secutive year as presi ­ dent of the ZTFE, speaking his mind with Federations (WCZF). He was all in unabashed candor. Dalal estimated about 120-150 Iranians among the 5,000-7,000 based on individual membership, fought Zoroastrians in the UK. the formation of the WCZF tooth and He claimed his policy nail. “Why does not the WZO function was to keep them “at in Chicago? Why not in Toronto or par in spite of their Sydney or Singapore? ” he challenged, smaller number ” be ­ cause despite their lack In his turn Dalal questioned the WZO’s representative credentials at a time when the Federation of Parsi Zoro ­ astrian Anjumans of India had opted to become a founder member of the pro ­ posed World Council of Zarathushti favor of the ZTFE joining the WCZF while the WZO, which has perennially claimed to be a “world body ” but is Photo: Arnavaz S. Mama According to Dalal the value of ZTFE real estate was £ 250,000 book value in of voting strength, he had not forgotten 1997 but worth about three times as that they “did pour money into us. ” His personal leaning towards orthodoxy does not prevent him from speaking of Prof Farhang Mehr as a “personal friend, ” adding “I don’t agree with everything he say.s but the friendship i.s maintained. ” Attending most Iranian function.s at Zo- roaslrian House he said, “a.s president I have the privilege to go whenever I like,” but is honored that “they also have the courtesy to invite me.” The 1997 edition of the Zoroastrians “Rusi Dalal is the only president [of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE)] in recent history to get a stand ­ ing ovation from the community when he announced that he had decided to step down,” notes his successor Dorab Mistry. The last of the traditionalist East Af ­ rican immigrants who _||||||||||||||^^ successfully challenged the liberal leanings of the ruling ZTFE team in 1986, Dalal contin- ue.s on the community scene as member of the managing committee. Unlike others of his group, however, the Zanzibar-born civil en­ gineer has nurtured a younger generation of leaders, led the ZTFE Dalal: spunky and spry outward into meaning ­ ful dialogue with other faiths. Dalal seized the current wave of multiracial acceptance in Britain to reg- that they “did pour money into us. ” His much. He estimated its liquid assets then ister the ZTFE as the Zoroastrian spokes- personal leaning towards orthodoxy does at £ 800,000 comprising both restricted man in the UK, representing the commu- not prevent him from speaking of Prof and unrestricted funds including £ nity at Commonwealth Day functions, Farhang Mehr as a “personal friend, ” 150,000 created for a resident mobed in the Queen’s garden parties and other adding “I don’t agree with everything he Zoroastrian House. The experiment to events, thereby stealing a march on hi.s say.s but the friendship i.s maintained. ” keep one had been tried in Shahpur fellow stalwarts. Attending most Iranian function.s at Zo- Captain ’s time “but the fellow couldn’t In the process Dalal receives letters roaslrian House he said, “a.s president I survive there, ” he noted. like the one from Bill Peters, co-ehair- have the privilege to go whenever I like,” One ofDalal ’s coups was to bid for the man ofJubilee 2000, an educational char- but is honored that “they also have the Second World Zoroastrian Youth Con- ity seeking to inform the public of the courtesy to invite me.” gress at the end of the first Congress in deleterious effects of the policies of world The 1997 edition of the Zoroastrians Los Angeles. He then left his team of financial institutions like the World Bank of UK, the community directory, has Young Zoroastrians to formulate the fun- and the International Monetary Fund: 2,400 names as against the 2,000 entries damentals “without imposition from the “The report of the Commonwealth Day in 1994 and 1,000 in 1991 admitted main committee on their thinking. There Observance Service at Westminster Ab- Dalal, but maintained the primacy of the was no inhibition. (But) when the time bey has given me your name; the role you ZTFE. “When you talk of association, came to evolve theirthoughts, we helped.” performed at the Service indicates clearly your leading role in Britain within your religious community. I write to seek your learned advice on ways in which it might be possible, using example.s from your sacred texts, for the Jubilee 2000 Cam ­ paign... ” Both spunky and spry, Dalal does not hesitate to compensate for his short frame by jumping onto tables to be seen and 2,400 names as against the 2,000 entries in 1994 and 1,000 in 1991 admitted Dalal, but maintained the primacy of the ZTFE. “When you talk of association, there ’s only one: ZTFE.” It’.s the only As noted Perses Sethna, now member of one that covers the entire area, provides the facilities, he said. “The Zoroastrians of South London themselve.s say they’re not an association. Almost all their mem­ bers arc also members of the ZTFE. London is vast. It stretches 50 miles north through the budgets and the finance. ” to south, 50 miles west to east. ” The local bodies meet for social occasions but they have no property of their own, no reli- the ZTFE managing committee, at the press conference after the event, “Rusi was heavily involved but remained in the background. He accepted that it was a sort of training (for us). The link was Another activity Dalal is proud of is the ZET — Zoroastrian Educational Team — and the courses they had struc- 49 Parsiana April 1999tured with scholars like Rashna Writer, Peter Clarke, Jenny Rose and professors from the School of Oriental and African Studies coming to lecture on specific themes. He was particularly pleased with the open sessions with Khojeste Mistree and Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal which enabled the community to acquire gen­ eral knowledge and background on the religion, contrasting them with the WZO sponsored seminars where research scholars argue over semantics which “go over the common peoples ’ head, ” Dalal could not resist a dig. Particular that religious functions be held on the specific day and not over the nearest weekend, Dalal spoke of the muktad and Navroz functions at Zoro ­ astrian House and the Brookwood prayers on Fravardigan claiming they are performed in a “proper, piou,s man ­ ner. ” The ZTFE has a group of 20 voluntary priests and newer priests are being ordained — eight in the younger generation. Dalal noted that there is a high demand for priests. The Fravar ­ digan function held by WZO’s Noshir- wan Cowasjee is, according to Dalal, done in a “popular manner. ” Cowasjee ZTFE). I am not talking for or against provides transport and food, averred but that the ZTFE has social, religious '© ETHICAL EDITIONS continued from page 26 Shapurjee Saklatvala is called for in every field if India is to get out of the rut it is presently in. These giants made and wrote history by their thoughts, their word.s and their deeds leaving behind a very rich cultural legacy. The authors exhort the business managers to emu­ late them. Ethical discourse can seldom be di­ vorced from religion and culture. Sadri et al make an attempt to do so, but cannot sustain it for long. All major religions have consequently been criti ­ cally treated in relation to ethics and the inherent goodness in all of them has been brought out. They divide religion into philosophy which is metaphysics and to that they pay great tributes. On the other hand they explain ritual as organized religion or ideology and to that they pay scant respect. They openly state that ritual is emphasized by the priestly classes in all religions to sus ­ tain their own position. The authors advocate upholding of ethical standards in all managerial actions and at all times irrespective of the cost or the trouble. And unless that happens, our moral fabric will be very weak. 50 Parsiana April 1999 Dalal. It’s held over a weekend, “it’s not a religious function, it’s a mock­ ery... People visiting Brookwood are made to sign. When you say there are and educational sides... At the govern ­ ment, interfaith, inter-communal levels we are accepted as truly representative of Zoroastrians in this country... We can ’t cope with the extent of represen- Thp 7TFF haQ a required. ” ¦ • ¦ ¦ ¦— I lao a Dalal ’s wife Roshan is a gynecologist qrouD of 20 voluntarv with five postgraduate qualifications, but I * filer* I"!inpfinne oc <» rrAtiArol nropfitmnpr priests and newer priests are being ordained more people, who goes to Fravardigan? Those who’ve lost their near and dear grimly. Their large home in Ealing must ones... They talk in political terms, not praying for the dead... “Why is the BBC ringing us up and not the WZO? Why is it that in national lawyers and scholars with the same com- things we get invited? We get officially forting amalgam of family warmth and invited in the multicultural life of this respectful distance. country. We are trying to formalize the religion which was on an ad hoc basis. There is greater interchange at the glo­ bal level. The world is shrinking. (Hong brought us all together (because) we Kong’s Keki) Jokhi, (Dinshaw) Tam- boly (of WZO India) come here (to the With best compliments from Tata Economic Consultancy Services The consultants for industrial projects Tata Economic Consultancy Service.s (A division of Tata Sons Limited) Orient House, Adi Marzban Path Mumbai 400001 Telephone 2617621 (.5 lines) 2619819, 2617969, 2618890, 2613811 Fax (022) 2613810 Telegram TECSTATA E-Mail; lecsfe ’giasbmOl .vsnl.net. in Other TECS Offices in India; Delhi - Madras - Bangalore Hyderabad Resident representative in Calcutta also functions as a general practitioner (GP), son Sohrab has gone from pediat ­ rics to aviation medicine but also works as GP, Phiroze is a civil engineer, while daughters Rukshana and Natasha are both pharmacists. Both sons are married to English girls, a fact that Dalal accepts be the most hospitable dharamshala in the world, hosting high priests and stu­ dents, visiting journalists, globe trotting Retrospecting on the successful Sec­ ond WZYC, Dalal philosophised, “We started out as a motley crew but it were focused in the same direction. It shows that if you aim high and go about it right, you can achieve a lot. Projects can bring people together. ” a.s.m . Personal sale of Authentic Parsi garas, silver, gold and jari borders Contact: 2833078, 2873373 MATRIMONIAL Mumbai based, fair, good-looking, graduate, working, issueless divorcee 45 years, seeks alliance with educated, well-settled men in India/abroad. Please send bio data with photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (April/11-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.BOOKS How Iran became Islamic Conflict and Cooperation: Zoroastrian Subal­ terns and Muslim Elites in Medieval Iranian Society by Jamsheed K. Choksy. Published in 1997 by the Columbia University Press, New York. Pp: xiv + 207. Price: $ 46/£ 32. Clioksy: tmciiif’ How did the vast territory and people.s of the Sasanian empire — that included what i.s now Iraq, the Iranian plateau (the two together referred to as Iranshahr) and west ­ ern Central Asia (then known as Transoxania which today comprise Uz­ bekistan Turkmenistan, Tadzikistan, etc) — which had been predominantly Zoroastrian for nigh a mil­ lennium, transform itself into an Islamic society? Prof Jamsheed Choksy of Indiana University exam ­ ines the military, political, relifiirnts cliciiif’e religious and social Photo: Nazneen Vajifdar changes “that displaced Zo­ roastrians from the apex of society and elevated Muslim.s in their place ” be ­ tween the seventh and 13lh centuries by which lime the proces.s was complete. From rt study of primary sources as well as a host of publication.s (the bib ­ liography covers IS pages of print) Choksy guides the reader through 600 years of tumult that reduced the proud Sasanian battalions, with their superior and feared inheritors to “fleeting ste ­ reotypical images ” in the Hood of fs- lamie literature. Associate professor in the depart ­ ment of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Choksy had earlier authored Triitniph over Evil: Purity and Pollu­ tion inZoroastrianisni. The current work is dedicated to his brothers Khursheed ally may have been replaced by per- and Vishtasp. Their father Kairshasp Choksy wa.s a former cabinet minister in Sri Lanka. Hira ” — Christian Arabs who had Five chapters of Conflict and Coop- guarded the Sasanians ’ western frontier e rat ion trace the upheavals “From strife to coexistence, ” examining “The role of premonitory literature, ” “Patterns of rcligiou.s change, ” “Restructuring of so ­ cioeconomic relations ” and “The conse ­ quences of contact. ” An indispensable and 52 Parsiana April 1999 Arnavaz S. Mama map and seven other illustrations add to the book ’s interest. The book shows that the military impact between the two peoples reso ­ nated through other aspccl.s of their relationship. Where the Arab victorie.s were quick and the vanquished honored their commitment, cooperation between the two races came quickly. Conversion was generally voluntary and assimilation came easier. Where there was protracted resistance, the tendency of the victor was, eventually, to grind the vanquished un­ derfoot. It took almost two Transoxania). He sought horses and centurie.s for the Zoroastrian demographic strength to fall below the critical mass. But once figures fell low enough, there was no way to sustain institutions like the clergy, the fire-temples and the seminaries. With so- cioeconomic despair came y levels and arising tide figures declining li'er: of ignorance. “We still do not know why the Irani ­ ans failed to contain the Arabs at the onset of hostility, ” writes Choksy. The invading Muslims were “mobile, disci ­ plined and seasoned, (but) they should not have posed a serious threat to the numbers, equipment, tactical training and field experience. ” However Choksy The Arabs gave the Iranians three op­ notes that the Iranians were “dispirited by recent mishaps ” in the incessant conllicl with the Byzantine Christians. In addition, Khusro I had transformed the army “from a clan based to an indemnified force; ” hence “group loy- sonal interest." Also, Khusro IT.s “ter ­ mination of the Lakhmid dynasty of Hira ” & — may have helped the Arabs. More ­ over, the Iranians ’ time honored lactic of retreating to the mountains until the invader collected his booty and de­ parted, failed to work against the invad ­ ing Arabs whose primary agenda was the spread of Islam in the colonized land. To these specifics Choksy adds the usual factors prevalent in a decaying empire: inertia, weak leadership, ex­ cessive taxation, social discontent. Morale must have been at an all-time low. Choksy quotes Zoroaslrian cleric Farrobay i Ashawahisht who wrote in the Bundahishn, “When Yazdagird be ­ came king he ruled for 20 years. At that time the Arabs assailed Iran in great numbers. Yazdagird (himself) did not confront them in battle. (Rather) he fled to Khurasan and Turkestan (or men there, but the people murdered him. So the land of Iran fell to the Arabs. ” Although the Sasanian army inllicted a major defeat on the invaders at the Battle of the Bridge in 634, factional strife in Ctesiphon, the royal capital, “distracted the Iranians from taking any further action against the vanquished Muslim forces, ” writes Choksy. This enabled the latter to regroup and con­ front the defenders at Qadisiyya. De­ spite outnumbering the foe, the Sasa ­ nian forces retreated when their com­ mander was slain. They lost to the en­ emy at Babylon, leaving the road to the capital open to the invaders. After a few skirmishes and a siege, Ctesiphon fell, Yazdagird having moved away earlier. tions: To convert to Islam and enjoy equal rights and responsibilities; to maintain their own faith and pay a tribute; to meet in open combat. The Iranians — the garrison as well as civil­ ians — agreed to pay tribute. This pat ­ tern repeated itself in various places, with the Zoroastrians reneging on pay ­ ment once the Arab forces moved away, leading to renewed conflict. According to Muslim records, an edict by Caliph Umar quoted by Choksy instructed the Arabs to ‘“Preserve their previous status, except for individuals who (continue) to side with the enemy and arc captured. Treat the peasants exactly as you have treated others be ­Qazvin and Isfahan people opted to change their religion rather than pay tax as cnsur- rciiions fore them... When you enjoin them (to adopt Islam) but they opt to pay the poll tax, and you (accept it) and send them back home... then that action consti ­ tutes granting them protection. ’ ... It rcllects a pragmatic option available to the Arab.s during the sev ­ enth century. Indeed, in lower and upper Iraq, trea ­ ties involving the taxation of subjects rather than re ­ peated battles and constant repression became the norm, leading to peaceful relations in following years, ” adds Choksy. The tax gatherers were often the very Zoroas ­ trians who had performed the job for their Sasanian king. Pattern.s of intcrcommunal conflict, coexistence and cooperation varied from region to region. In Iraq, Khuzistan, Azerbaijan and Sistan harmoniou.s co­ existence wa.s quickly established major battle.s as well as pact violations were few and “neither side had many memories of atrocities... With a social accord in place, the Muslim.s were even­ tually able to convince the Zoroastrians of Islam ’s ascendency, thereby ing peaceful conversions... ” In Fars, Kirman, the Jibal and Khurasan which constituted the histori ­ cal core of Iranshahr, the fights were bloodier and more protracted, write.s Choksy. Large-scale insurrection.s led to extermination and enslavement and a constant struggle over land and water rights, etc. In Transoxania and the Caspian region.s of Daylam and Tabaristan brutal military clashes led to long-lasting enmity and “a mutual dis ­ taste for cohabitation... The spread of Islam to these areas wa.s also slow, for the same reasons. ” No massive rebel ­ lion could be mounted however for lack of leadership as it was generally the local elites who accepted the need for change and tended to collaborate with the colonizers in order to maintain their own standing. The turbulence of the time.s pre ­ vented immediate chronicling so that the events of the seventh century were conveyed by oral tradition until they were documented in the ninth century. By the time of the writing both victor and vanquished felt the need to justify the great Arab victorie.s as well, a.s the mortifying Zoroastrian defeats. “As the Muslims realized the perma ­ nence of their triumphs and the Zoroas- 53 Parsiana April 1999 trians accepted the inevitability of their decline, the seeds of attitudinal trans ­ formation were sown by restructuring memory through prophetic and apoca ­ lyptic narratives that rationalized these events. ” Thus the veracity of incidents was sacrificed in a search forsymbolic value: “Ac- counts of the past... were arranged and rearranged until the desired point of view was attained. ” Some of the prophe ­ cies were attributed to Muhammed. One story assert.s that Muhammed wrote to Khusro II call- ture, ” notes Choksy. In time, parallels emerged between Muhammed and Zarathushtra and the ancient Iranian kings so that Muhammed emerged as their “legitimate spiritual successor and the caliphs as valid temporal heirs to earlier Iranian leaders. ” Eventually the current turned in the opposite direction a.s the Muslim.s gained numerical strength and Zoroastrian.s felt constrained to present their own faith in Islamic terms, using Arabic motifs and imagery. “Detailed accounts of Zara ­ thushtra ’s mission date only from the ninth century AD and conform in many respect.s to the images of prophetic ex­ perience found in the Bible and the ing Iranians to Islam and that Khusro Quran... The Muslims ’ partiality to- tore up the letter. When Muhammed heard this, he is supposed to have said, '“Hi.s kingdom will be torn from him in picted in conference with AhuraMazda the same manner.' Thi.s report gained credibility a.s a prophecy because it pre ­ sented a historical fact — Khusro lost both hi.s kingdom and his own life in 628. After Muslims had become the rulers of Iranshahr, the predictive aspect of this talc proved valuable, for the Zo- roastrians would have had difficulty re ­ futing it,” notc.s Choksy. Another due prediction from Mu­ hammed is supposed to have come when he heard ofthe short (629-630) rule of queen Boran, the daughter of Khusro II: “A people who place women in charge of their affairs will never prosper. ” At­ tributing such a biased statement to Muhammed may have been a way of exploiting Iranian and Arab feeling.s about women, write.s Choksy. The Zoroastrian.s too sought justifi ­ cations of their defeat beyond their own failings. Apocalyptic Zoroastrian proph ­ ecy had a linear concept of time. It wa.s divided into seven periods each worse than the last, until the arrival of the foretelling. ” Arab victories began to be savior {.'iaashyani). Now the Muslim rule wa.s seen a.s leading them further towards doomsday and the arrival of a savior that had long been foretold. Con­ trasting later explanations with earlier records.Choksy illustrates how the nar ­ rative of event.s wa.s translated by later writers into a causal relationship that assuaged the lust for conquest on one hand and the distaste for battle on the other. “Assimilated traditions linked the two group.s to their common past, with the resulting web of interacting nostication.s helping the Zoroastrians accept Muslim overlordship and cul- prog- ward revelation may explain the fre ­ quency with which Zarathushtra is dc- in medieval Zoroastrian literature dat ­ ing from the ninth century onward. ” Analyzing the changing religious patterns Choksy writes, “Apostasy from Zoroastrianism did not begin with the advent of Islam. Around the year 300 (AD), people in Armenia who once worshipped Ahura Mazda turned to Christ. Later, during the final decades of Sasanian rule, spiritually dissatisfied upper-class Zoroastrians defected to Nestorian Christianity. ” Choksy also notes that though there were cases where Iranians embraced Islam to avoid death, in Takrit, Masabadan, Qazvin and Isfahan people opted to change their religion rather than pay tax. Then, a.s premonitory tales spread, people fur­ ther lost faith in a losing religion and felt justified in accepting Islam which its victories seemed to justify. “No con­ tact with Islam ’s doctrines or sacred writings was needed, merely convic­ tion based on the alleged fulfillment of viewed as a divine sign of a new social order. Nonetheless, large-scale desertion from Zoroastrianism was infrequent in the early years. And when they did, the reasons were many and varied — the desire for personal freedom, financial gain and employment incentives as well a.s intellectual persuasion. In fact Choksy write.s that initially “the propagation of Islam was soft-pedaled so that commu­ nal distinctions and high revenues could be maintained. ” Islam found its earlier converts among city-folk. In areas where Zoroas ­ trian resistance was high, there was an exodus into the countryside and the mountains. In an effort to prevent con­ version the Zoroastrian high priest de­ creed that a converted Zoroastrian be regarded a.s legally dead and his/her property be absorbed by loyal Zoroas ­ trian members of the fam ­ ily. But by the 10th cen- “Conversion to lury they were unable to /nrnaqtriflniQm enforce such ordinances UdbU IctI llbl 11 and indeed sought lo per- from Islam, or any other religion, was permissible according to magian law ” formula mit reentry into the faith by a recital of the confes ­ sional formula of fravaraiie together with purification rights and the retying of the kusli. “Conversion to Zoroas ­ trianism from Islam, or any other religion, was permissible according to magian law: ‘If there is someone from another faith who wishes to follow the good reli ­ gion... then Zoroastrians should admit him or her into the fold of those who fulfill the true dictum.’ A manual known a.s the Herbedextaii (priestly code) even proposed applying socioeconomic pres ­ sure on Muslims to turn them toward Zoroastrianism, ” write.s Choksy, noting that the guiding principle in all such cases was that no harm should result lo the community thereby. But by then the Muslims did not look kindly on apos ­ tasy. On the basi.s of anecdotal and statis ­ tical evidence Choksy believes that by around 1250 or 1300, urban and rural Zoroastrians accounted for less than 20 percent of Iran ’s population. He shows how the decline in the Zoroastrian popu­ lation was reflected in the decreasing number of ecclesiastical institutions. Fire-temples and madressas gradually fell into disuse as the community lost its economic base and was unable to sup ­ port its priests. Many such institutions were taken over by the increasing num­ ber of Muslims. Mosques, which had been few and far between, began to dot the landscape, first in the urban areas and then the rural. He uses the architec ­ tural evidence of the mosque.s and their history lo show that it took nearly 600 years for Islam to gain complete control of Iran. With the decline in the number of Zoroastrian clerics, learned priests sought to preserve their knowledge in writing. The works they produced were meant to counter Islamic attraction for ignorant lay Zoroastrians. But as time 54 Parsiana April 1999, went on, the size of the Zoroastrian the community. But by the ninth century audience diminished as did its level of they began to lose their influence, priests literacy due to the socioeconomic de­ cline. And, a.s Zoroastrians retreated in each aspect of life, the Muslims ad ­ vanced, producing “a written culture that disseminated Islam widely.” Discussing [hejizym or poll tax that Zoroastrians were required to pay un­ til the mid-19th century, Choksy traec.s its ante ­ cedents to the gazidag or annual head tax levied by the Sasanian administra ­ tion which all subjects — men, women and children from all walks of life in­ cluding Zoroaslrians — paid during the fourth and fifth centu­ ries. Later it was paid in lieu of military, church or state service and hence the aristocrats, clergy and bureaucrats were exempted from paying the gazidag. By quently, Muslim mores prevailed, the seventh century the Sasanian state levied a poll tax on all non-Zoroastrian adult male.s in exchange for religious freedom, inform.s Choksy. The draconian aspects of Muslim administration on Zoroastrians began with the Abbasid rule, after 1300. Then, even protected non-believers were equaled to heretics inimical to Muslim well-being. High administrative posi ­ tions were denied lo non-Muslims and became an indirect lure lo accept Islam. Accordingly, the social and legal stand ­ ing of Zoroaslrian familie.s fell when a parent, sibling or husband left the com­ munity. “A woman whose father, hus ­ band or brother had joined the Muslims could only By around 1250 be the secondary or col­ lateral spouse of another Zoroastrian, not the chief wife. ” She had scant au ­ thority over her children or 1300, urban and rural Zoroastrians and had lo, al least partly, accounted for maintain hersel I. Such so ­ cial isolation may have persuaded the affected percent of Iran ’s latter. Daily accommo- women and children to . dationsreachedbyper- alsojoin Islam for it scem.s pOpUiailOn sons, irrespective of that the Zoroaslrian com- creed, munily did little lo provide succor lo such families. judicial authority over Zoroastrians had rested with the magian hierarchy Arabs into an evolving Islamic culture under the Muslim administrators and was enforced with the aid of ex-Sasa- nian noble.s to maintain law and order in less than 20 became hard to find and “any man who had some religious education, or at least a pious man of good repute could exer ­ cise judicial authority. ” With the in­ creasing interface between the two reli ­ gions came clashes of values. “When Muslim values conflicted with non­ Muslim ones, the shari ’a was supposed to prevail. ” Tracing the socioeconomic flux be ­ tween 650 and 1300, Choksy notes, “The growth of rules and praxis, offi ­ cial or customary, roughly followed the progress of political and religious change. Islamic viewpoints became bet ­ ter articulated and more dogmatic as the Zoroastrians lost authority and de­ clined in number. Indeed, coercion be ­ came an instrument that the Muslim majority could, and occasionally did, use to abolish sectarian laws and cus ­ toms contradicting its own. Conse- slowly shifting the rules of socioeco ­ nomic interaction from Zoroastrian to Islamic one.s and thus remodeling Ira ­ nian society. Perhaps the greatest irony was that Zoroastrians were now subject to mechanisms of regulation analogous to those that the Sasanian state, magian hierarchy, and ordinary believers had once imposed on other religious mi­ norities... “In essence, necessity found expres ­ sion in the reinterpretation or manipu ­ lation of religious laws. With compro ­ mises made by both groups in regard to their beliefs and desires, the communal laws arrived at eventually became de­ pendent on the circum ­ stances at hand. Joint endeavors that seemed useful or pragmatic gen­ erally were accepted, creating ties that en­ dured between Zoroas ­ trians and Muslims even after the former had lost all social control to the overcame socioreligious obstacles to create coop­ eration and end antagonism, as the ma ­ jority of Iranians assimilated with the in medieval Iranian society... ” “As the consequences of contact be ­ came apparent, Zoroastrians began emi-grating to western India to forge a new. highly successful future. One band is said to have left Khurasan for the coast of the Persian Gulf and then sailed to Gujarat where they were granted asy ­ lum by an Indian ruler in 936 and came to be known to the locals there as the Parsis, or the people from Persia. Those Zoroastrians who remained behind sought refuge from Muslim lifestyles by moving to remote places in Far.s and Kirman, leaving political control, reli ­ gious direction, and socioeconomic trends in Muslim hands... “Iranian society — and its beliefs and practices — has alway.s been open to change. The Muslims took over this task from the Zoroastrians as the latter declined in statu.s and number, with the Muslims gaining complete control around 1300. The rejection of — or, even more radically, the rebellion against — this new status quo gradually became a risk that those remaining loyal Zoroastrians were unwilling to take in their quest for survival. Staying subal ­ tern politically, religiously, socially, and demographically seemed safer to them. A.s opposition from the original community waned, the diachronic pat ­ terns that prevailed in Iranian society from the seventh through the 13th ccn- turic.s produced a new social order broadly based on Islamic value.s and viewpoints — the culture of an elite, majority community. The lives of each group ’s members, individually and col­ lectively, were shaped by their knowl­ edge of the past. What they became was a legacy of who they had been and what they had experienced through conllict and cooperation. ” There are some similarities and contrast.s here with the current Parsi situation on the Indian subcontinent: that a critical population mas.s i.s in­ dispensable to maintaining commu­ nity institutions. Though 2()th cen­ tury Parsis arc on a far superior socio ­ economic wicket than Zoroastrian.s in 10th century Iran, our fire-temples, . dokhmas, aramgahs and madressas are falling into desuetude too. Choksy ’s book also seems to demon­ strate that once a community dec­ lines in num-ber its revival is a pipe drcam. And all kinds of apocalyptic longings continue to survive in a com­ munal memory that enshrine.s its past glory while forgetting the mistake.s of omission and commission that led to it.s fall. offers genetic 55 Parsiana April 1999 A comprehensive program for treatment and development is offered ters for kids who are unable to benefit from academics. Sr Ives, a nun who helps at the School, says that some students no longer attend school. Instead they work in this center on a full ­ time basis. They are made to operate in conditions closest to a working environ ­ ment. With the guidance of weaving masters, they have made saris, bedspreads, towels, furnishing fabrics, tablecloths, etc. Every year an exhibition of these handicrafts is held and the response has AN ACT OF GRACE continued from page 35 “The research center counselling to parent.s in order to pre ­ vent such children being born in soci ­ ety. The tests help to determine the carrier stalu.s of the parents. ” “In 1949, The Research Society for always been tremendous. When choos- the Care, Treatment and Training of Children in Need of Special Care was formed. After the Teacher ’.s Training Course was started in 1952, the School WHS shifted to Sewri Hill in 1957,” says Shastri. The Society has been creating awarenes.s about the problem of mental handicaps through television, radio talks, Indian newsreels, dance, drama, sports, art and craft exhibitions and competitions, publishing and distribut ­ ing research papers, newsletters and books all over India as well as abroad, mentions Shastri. These children, even the most rest ­ less among them, can be brought to concentrate on handwork, crafts, music and otherextra-curricular activities, says Shroff. The children are taught paint ­ ing, dancing, cooking, weaving, spin ­ ning, embroidery, knitting, carpentry, etc. They arc also taught to make item.s such a.s incense sticks, envelopes, cards, wrapping papers, hangers and so on. All these activitie.s serve as outlets for their abundant energy and help them expres.s their innermost emotions. It also instills in them a sense of discipline and re ­ sponsibility. And the sense of joy and (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid) lab, an au- satisfaction that the child gain.s from doing these task.s i.s invaluable. The mentally handicapped children come to this School only to discover that they are needed and that their life has a meaning. Their enormou.s creative po­ tential is tapped and directed in the right direction. The institute ’s campus also house.s the vocational and pre-vocational ccn- ing an occupation for the students, care is taken to choose a suitable field, one that the student is comfortable in. “Though these children need special care, in reality 99 percent of (such) children in India (30 million) get no care, treatment or training. In India we have no program for the adult retarded. Genetic engineering, advances in teach ­ ing technologies, research in the field of mental retardation will alleviate quite a few problems in the near future. What has not been done in the last 50 years will be done in the next 10 years, ” Shastri i.s optimistic. Problems faced by such institutions are funding, getting qualified trained staff and grants. Besides individual do­ nors, there i.s a funds committee and financial aid is also offered by the state government, says Shroff. “Grants and licenses should be processed speedily and favorably by local bodies, the state and central governments, ” declare.s Shastri. “Our future plans are to estab ­ lish more centers in the rural and semi- rural areas like Deolali, Kamshet, a custodial care home at Lonavla, a DNA tism center, a special vocational train ­ ingcenter, and to expand teachers ’ train ­ ing programs, ” he adds. “Every body should look at their abili ­ ties, not disabilities, ” points out Shroff. “The World Health Organization has declared that you cannot label them as handicapped. They’re human being.s first. Their disability is their.s to con­ quer and they have conquered it.”MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged be ­ tween 18 and 39 years, the arith- nielic mean (the total number of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 25 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 23 and 43 years, averaging at 29 years. In the month of February, 74 Zoroastrians died a.s versus 17 babie.s born. Thirty patients (of whom 19 were SO-t-) fell prey to heart disease, the major killer. Other killer diseasc.s were pneu- monia/lung disease (seven), sep­ ticemia and cancer (six) and brain disease (five). There were four victim.s who succumbed to old age/general debility. Ane ­ mia, asthma and leukemia took a toll of two lives each. Two ladies in their mid-seventie.s were murdered in February. One wa.s slabbed to death whereas the other was strangulated. Hy­ pertension, diabetes, Steven- Johnson ’s syndrome (a severe type of toxic or allergic skin eruption), acidosis (depletion of the body ’s alkaline reserve), hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body), falciparum ma­ laria, liver disease and ulcer accounted for the eight isolated case.s registered. The eldest to breathe her last wa.s a I ()3-year- old lady compared to a .31 -year- ¦o' BARODA BORN A boy, Hanoz, to Parivaz and Firdaus' Avari on October 14, 1998 BOMBAY BORN A boy to Zenohia and Percy Irani', February 3, 1999 A girl to Shahnaz. and ShaliRtikh Khohyar, February 8 A boy to Ruzin and Jal Master, February 1 2 A boy to Farida and Jimmy Tata', February 12 A boy. .leshad, to Nina and Neville Diimasia'. February 15 A girl, Khtishnaz, to Daisy and Homyar Katrak', February 15 A girl to Shanaz and Rumi Mirza'. February 15 A girl to Fargish and Kaizad Misiry, February 18 A boy to Sharmeen and Kevic Setalvad', February 19 A boy, Arzan, to Arinin and 56 Parsiana April 1999 old male, the youngest. The Zoroaslrian life expectancy ;it birth lor February, in Bombay, was 77 years. The data on births, marriage.s and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by Percy Hoshang Sanjana', variou.s newsletters and anju- mans in India and abroad, courl.s 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 figure.s for Bom­ bay are supplied by four hospi- lafs — birth.s in suburban hospi- laks and private nursing honie.s are not included unless indi ­ viduals send us information to­ gether with ;i copy of the birth certificate. There may be an in­ advertent I'epetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. In the breakup of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/dealhs they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We arc sure our reader.s would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. Zarir Wadia; February 21 A boy to Shernaz. and Percy Doctor. February 2,3 A boy to Helena and Reyaz. Mama'. February 24 A boy to Eiroza and Rohinton Dadyhui'ioi". February 26 A girl to Zeeha and Darayii.'! Shrojf'. February 26 A girl to Kamal and Hosidar Khajotia', February 27 A boy to Eiroza and Shahrnkh Khan', February 27 A boy to Earzeen and .lamshed Patel', February 27 MARKILD Diana Earokh Dorahjee anti Kerman Cyru.s Bharucha of Poona; January 21 Dimi>le Shapin' Khandhadia and Zarksis Falli Gotla; February I Eirooza Tehmton Dehoo and Adil Kershasp Sadri', February 4 Huto.xi Maneckshaw Wadia and Yazdi Kekhasarii Vandriwala of Bedford, UK; February 5 Shernaz Hormuzd Bhumgara and Hormuzdyar Bahadur Gandhi', February 7 Anahila Cyrus Wadia and February 7 Kaenaz Dara Billimoria and Navroz. Soly Dhamodiwalla', February 8 Farzana Navroji Daruwala of Navsari and Niraf Homi Randeria', February 9 Paricheher Zarir Mistry and Shahaz.ad Cava.f Contractor, February 1 1 Monaz. Firoz Nariman and Adil Bahadur Elavia', February 11 Jasmine Sarosh Gorimar of Thana and Asjh Kersasp Kolalr, February 1.3 Shiromi Faredoon Afagh and Donesh Behmard Felfeli', February 14 Sharmeen Khodadad Irani and Jehangir Rustom Irani', February 14 Anita Soli Choksi and Freddy Percy Bharucha', February 16 Parvana Sarosh Irani and Adil Biirjor Busha', February 16 Daisy Vistasp Katki and Bui'zeen Rohinton Driver, February 18 Tinaz. Sohrah Toddywalla and Pi ran Jimmy Kateli', February 18 Persi.'i Rusi Fitter 'drui Hoshang Navroji Variava', February 19 Mazarin Kersi Daruwalla of Thana and Ashish Phiroze Pithawala', February 20 Jennij'er Khurshed Sepoy and Gustad Behrant Faredooni', February 21 Roshni Jal Katrak and Zubin Rusi Mistry, February 21 Mahahanoo Keki Rana and Bomsi Nariman Wadia', February 21 Kashmera Sarosh Gorimar of Thana and Farihorz Purvez Zaigei", February 21 Maharookh Bejan Wadia and Pervez. Nariman Daver, February 22 Nina Adi Sagar and Bonii Phiroze Dinshaw', February 22 Benaijer Pervez Katrak and Mehernosh Minoo Gandhi', February 22 Benaz Vispy Meher-Homji and Cyril.'! Nani Reiwrler, February 2.3 Lyla Cooji Katrak and Zubin Keki Marker, February 25 Ferzin Marzban Sukhadia and Cyrus Dara Doomasia; February 26 Roshaii Jamshed Sukheswala and Burjis Tehmurasp Pardiwala', February 26 Shiromi Cyrus Irani of Deolali and Firdaus Jessi Billiardinaker; February 27 Fertush Boman Kayomerzi and Adil Abadan Irani', February 27 Daisy Firoze Gonda and Sheriyar Behram Irani'. February 27 Hoofrish Jehangir Gazder and i'z/c Earach Mehta', February 27 Bahareh Daryoosh Behmardi and Behruz Nariman Rustoini; February 28 DIED Kali Rustamji Governor (86), residing at 635, Munsif Bldg, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; February 1 Darayas Sorah/ee Kalyanivala (81), 677, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; February 2 Kersi Firoze Patel (72), Dehnu Bldg, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parel, 400012; February 2 Shirin Homi Rana (103), Jer Mans, 19, Gazdar St, Chira Bazar, 400002; February 3 Naval Ratanji Daruwalla (83), 686, Vevai Villa, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; February 4 Daulat Firoze Entee (72), 12, Island Heights, 36, Mount Mary Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; February 4 Framroze Jamshedji Patel (88), K-4, G-3, Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; February 4 Jeroo Jehangirji Bliadha (70),' C/o B. J. Bhadha, 11-A, Soonawalla Bldg, Khetwadi 12th Rd, 400004; February 6 Tehmina Sorab Dastoor (82), 11/IV, NITIE, Vihar Lake, 400087; February 6 Jal Phirozshah Mehta (89), 739, Cama Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; February 6 Rodabe Maneckji Amaria (82), 22, Aderbad, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; February 7 Jeroo Jamshed Ichaporia (85), 13, Cama Hse, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; February 7 Dosibai Cawasji Tainholi (99), E-4, Dalal Est,Lamington Rd, 400008; February 7 Dorabji Phirojshaw Driver (80), 11/273, Agiary Chwl, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; February 8 Rati Savaksha Pooiijiaji (72), P/9, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; February 8 Dadi Sorabji Shroff (83), 38, Shireen, Shahid Bhagat Singh Rd, Colaba, 400005; February 8 Maneck Homi Ghadially (85), Panday Sanatorium, Panday Rd, 400005; February 10 Rustom Khodadad Irani (75), Zaveri Bldg, Corner of Grant Rd, 400007; February 10 Raymond Cavas Bharucha (31), 27/1-A, Tata Mills Co­ op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; February 11 Homai Cavas Caret (66), 1/75, Jehangir Mans, Hughes Rd, 400007; February 11 Moti Jamasp Garda (82), 7, Royal Ter, 58, WodehouseRd, Colaba, 400005; February 11 Jehangir Sorabji Mistry (75), B/603, Hibiscus, 7 Bglws, Andheri (W), 400061"; February 11 Dara Ardeshir Karbhari (IC). 8-286/C, F. K. Irani Chwl, ...because we care for your family too. Your eyes need looking after. You and your family need eye check ups. Spectacles Sunglasses Contact Lenses If you need any of these Our professional expertise will look after your problem. BaliwcJla & Homi Priva|e Limited Flora Fountain: 365, Dr.D.N.Road, Tel: 287 4916 / 1762. Dhobi Talao: 614,J.S.Seth Marg,Tel; 201 4906 / 4923 Parel: J.Menvanji Street, Tel: 412 6051 58 Parsiana April 1999 Parel, 400012; February 12 Allo Khurshedji Mistry (75), Room no 8, Meherali Mans, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 12 Tehmi Shapoorji Dhtihher {JJ), 77, Guzder Mans, Princess St, 400002; February 13 Rohinlon Klwelaelad Irani (57), 205, Kapadia Mans, Bazargate St, Fort, 4(X)001; February 13 Darahsha Bomanji Kapadia (88), 6-B, Readymoney Blocks, Mancherji Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; February 13 Khorsheel Pirojshaw Karkariei (87), 88, Ardeshir Dady St, Khetwadi, 400004; February 13 Tehmi Jed Mistrv (89), Umar Bldg, 394, M, Shaukatali Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; February 13 Roshan Dinsheiwji Rivetna (78), Nutan Gangotri, 62, Veera Desai Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; February 13 Roshan Eruchshei Ariel (80), Room no 19, S, D, Mody Hostel, Dr Annie Besant Rd, 400018; February 14 Framroze Hormasji Balivala {87), 16, Mamoon Manzil, Mehalla Patel Agiary Lane, Grant Rd, 400007; February 14 Aroo Sohrab Bhaya (85), 42/7, Shyam Nivas, 51, B. Desai Rd, 400026; February 14 Tehmi Merwanji Katrak (86), 75, Devchhaya, Tardeo Rd, 400034; February 14 Phiroze Kaikhushroo Mistry (78), P/21, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; February 14 Katy Kaikhushru Mysorewalla (80), Bana Bldg, 11th Lane, Khetwadi, 400004; February 14 Rusi Jal Sethna (80), 153-A, Cozy-More, Cumballa Hill, 400036; February 14 Homai Dadi Baria (86), 2/11, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; February 15 Alamai Burjorji Daruwalla (88), Rati Villa, Motibai St, Opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo, 400007; February 15 Jai Burjor Godrej (81), 40-D, B. G. Kher Marg, Malabar Hill, 400006; February 15 Tehmina Phiroze Karbhari (83), F/16, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; February 15 Goola Framroze Peddar (88), E-11, 127, Shiraz Ter, Tardeo, 400034; February 15 Phiroze Framroz Bamji (84), R-5, Godrej Baug, Off Napean Sea Rd, 400026; February 16 Roshaii Jehangir Confectioner (78), B-6, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; February 16 Keki Behramsha Karbhari (75), 5, Sayaji Bldg, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; February 16 Homai Minoo Tarapore (83), Phirojshaw Bldg, 70-C, August Kranti Marg, 400036; February 16 Boman Ardeshir Irani (78), Chamarbaugwalla Chwl, Parel, 400012; February 17 Hormaz Merwan Irani (68), 80, Goga St, Fort, 400001; February 17 Mehroo Cooverji Jussawalla (75), Cama Ter, Altamount Rd, 400026; February 17 Noshir Nowroji Mehta (79), Firuz-Ara, 160, Karve Rd, 400021; February 17 Nariman Maneckji Baxter (85), 815, Engineer Bldg, fame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; February 19 Homai Jal Bhathena (70), Lam Bldg, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, 400013; February 19 Katy Darabsha Elavia (78), E-47, Jer Baug, Dr AmbedkarRd, Byculla, 400027; February 19 Darahsha Jamshedji Homa- vazir (82), P/20, NowrozBaug, Lalbaug, 400012; February 19 Burjor Manchersha Menty 4, Vatcha Gandhi Bldg, Tha- kurdwar, 400002; February 20 Jamshed Jehangir Mistrv CI9\ 9l\b, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; February 20 Jalejar Darabshaw Bharucha Room no 9, C. D. Baug, Opp Jawahar Ngr, S, V. Rd, Goregaon, 400062; February 21 Goola Tehmures Pithawalla {59}, 161/6, Om Sai Krupa Co-op Hsg Soc, Bharat Ngr, Vikhroli (E), 400083; February 21 Behram Jamshedji Ready­ money (71), 66-E, Gowalia Tank Rd, 400036, February 21 Rati Dorabji Gora (S2}, 11, Mody Bldg, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; February 22 Maki Ardeshir Master (75), Contractor Bldg, KashinathSt, Tardeo, 400034; February 22 Harvesp Dhanjishaw Taraporewalla (55), 20, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; February 22 Rusi Ruttonsha Wadia (60), Room no 2, Umrigar Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; February 22 Armaiti Barjorji Disawala (44), 3/G-1, Shapur Bau; V. P. Rd, 400004; February 23 Adi Minocher Maoo (69), B/4, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 23 Saman Rustomji Mirza (63), 33, Joothica, 22, Noshir Bharucha Marg, 400007; February 23 Maneck Erachshaw Tata (69), C-12, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 23 Phiroze Cawasji Bordiwala {JU}, 907, Bombay Market Apt, Tardeo, 400034; February 26 . Bejonji Dinshaji Engineer {93}, India Hse No 3, Kemp’s Corner, 400026; February 26 Cawasji Eramji Hodiwalla (98), Room no 11/17, Rustoinjee Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400007; February 27 Perin Pervez Karanjia (69), F-28, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; February 27 Dara Munchershah Olpadwalla (73), 5, Surat Bahar Co-op Hsg Soc, 17, FIGURES AT A GLANCE* Bombay This issue 1998* 1999^^ India This issue 1998* 1999'^ World This issue 1998* 1999^ 59 Parsiana April 1999 ig. BIRTHS Boys Girls 10 6 115 92 17 12 1 1 3 5 1 1 1 48 34 1 1 MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 35 37 37 262 77 2 15 2 18 37 36 481 513 75 80 10 8 1 1 2 9 1 125 114 22 15 2 2 54 47 5 3 7 4 ?Running totals for 1998 (January 1998-April 1999 issues) ?Running totals for 1999 (January 1999-April 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. N. A. Sawant Marg, Colaba, 400005; February 27 Viloo Bomanshaw Vakil (57), 3, Vatcha Gandhi Bldg, Tha- kurdwar, 400002; February 27 Gool Murazhan Reader {n). 22, Cama Bldg, Gilder Lane, Tardeo, 400008; February 28 CALCUTTA DIED Cawas Homi Engineer, November I 1, 1998 MADRAS DIE.D Namrata {Aban} Hirjee {56}, wife of Niranjan and mother of Ritika and Namita; February 23 POONA BORN A girl, Farishte, toAroza and Jamsheed Bhesania', January 16, 1999 SADARVILA, GUJARAT DIED Pesi Faramji Karadia', October 16, 1998 SECUNDERABAD MARRIED Armaity B. Vasaigara and Nevi! D. Bhathela’ , January 19, 1999 Zinohia K. Bhadha and Btirjis D. Chinoy, January 30 DIED Manijeh Dadihah Batliwala (89); September 6, 1998 Roshan Jamshed Chenoy {'ll}', September 22 Mithoo Kersasp Chenoy {52}', September 24 Meherji J. Kotwal (83); October 1 Behram B. Vakil {13}', November 18 Adal Daran Enti {JA}', November 22 Phiroze M. Nanavaty {JC}', December 5 Ardeshar N. Irani {JC}', December 25 Dflf/v C. Patel {JCr}', January 4, 1999 Daulat Minocher Mohrawala {JQ}', January 21 Dinshaw Pestonji Talati (83); January 27 February 17 Homai Khurshedji Surati (73), Bage Parsha St, Macchlipith, 395003; February 25 CANADA British Columbia DIED Iraj Fallazadeh (55), father of Korosh, Hormuz and Zubin in Vancouver; November 27, 1998 Roda Jamshed Pavri (76), mother of Yezdi in Van­ couver; January 19, 1999 Ontario DIED Bahram Goshtasbpour, husband of Homayoun and father of Farangis and Shahram in Toronto; February 19 SURAT DIED Tehmid Kavasji Amalsadiwala (70), Sherdiwala Block, Shahpore, 395003; February 3 M enekmai Dins ha wa Tadiwada (70), Aalahibaug, Rustompura, 395002; February 9 Adi Savakshaw Gamir (58), Vaghapara, Post Umalala, Dist Bharuch, 392001; SINGAPORE DIED Roshen Daruwala (59), wife of Jimmy and mother of Neville, Carl and Zubin; January 7 USA Alabama BORN A boy, Justin Wyatt, to Shelli and Neville Aga in Birmingham; October 9, 1998 Compiled by Roxana A. DriverIN MEMORIAM Distinctive diagnoses Parinaz M. Gandhi child, it was his mother Bachi and Avi who succeeded in raising revenue for his education, reminisces Daruwalla. They stitched children ’s garments, re ­ tailed in the name of Badu ’s (as Burjor was known to his immediate family) Baba Suits, she adds. Since his school days at Palm Beach and subsequent education at Jai Hind College he had been winning scholar ­ ships. As mentioned in Indian Pediat­ rics, “He had an illustrious undergradu ­ ate and postgraduate medical career se ­ curing distinctions in various subjects and winning several prizes, awards and gold medals. After securing his MD in internationaljournals.Healso pediatrics, he opted for a full-time ca- authored chapters in text books and was a referee for Indian Pediatrics. Bharucha was invited to address innu­ merable conferences, sympo ­ sia and workshops. He had served as the electoral officer of the Indian Academy of ' Pediatrics and was the co- convener of its genetic chap ­ ter from 1988 to 1991, his accomplishments were listed in Indian Pediatrics. hardworking and conscientious nature ” when he was her research guide for her doctoral thesis. Referring to her mentor ’s exacting ways, she confessed, “His per ­ severance never let him stop until every word was perfect, every phrase was per ­ fect. There were no shortcuts for him.” A keen researcher, his papers have been presented in over 75 national and While pediatrics was his forte, he had very good knowledge of all branches of medicine, credits Daruwalla. When Cassinath, 21 years his senior, suffered from cancer for four years, while he personally tended to her needs, he is known to have taken the trouble to read all the books on the subject so that she was given the best line of treatment until her demise. Despite his busy schedule, Bharucha always made time for the after-death prayers for his sister and mother and,. reer at the Seth G. S. Medical College and K. E. M. Hospital. ” Try as they did to urge him to pursue a career in law, Bharucha declined to aver to the Daruwallas ’ wishes on the rationale that “Konaakho vakliatjoothoo bole (why tell lies all the time)?” Even after he earned a reputation for himself in his medical profession, dedicated a.s he was to his students and the children at the Hospital, he was never keen to set up his independent clinic and mint money although he was consulted on the phone Bharucha is also credited with being all the time, mentions Daruwalla. a founder member of the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India and a na ­ tional assessor and trainer for Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative. He was a member of the steering committee of the National Centre of Wilson ’s Disease, Observation and Management. Several voluntary organizations like the Spas- lics Society of India and the Common­ wealth Association for Mental Handi ­ cap and Developmental Disabilities he assisted in an advisory capacity. Endowed with a generous disposi ­ tion, he “would go out of the way to help being inclined to preserve the commu- the poor, ” related Udwadia-Hegde. Since the bachelor had no immediate family, he had befriended everyone and would love to entertain, being a good cook — “not ordinary cooking but exotic cook­ ing,” remembers Kamat. She also re ­ ferred to him as being “very versatile, very well-read and very good at playing western classical music on the piano. ” He was very good in languages too, states Aloo Daruwalla who had known Bharucha since hi.s birth, his half-sister Avi Cassinath being her best friend since school days. Burjor ’s father having de­ serted the family when he was yet a Died; Dr Burjor Ardeshir Bharucha, 43, eminent pediatrician and in-charge. Genetic Clinic at Bombay ’s K. E. M. Hospital, on October 11, 199S follow ­ ing massive myocardial infarction while he was on duty at the Hospital. “He was the backbone of the Genetic Clinic and the Pediatric Research Labo ­ ratory of the Hospital. The Clinic is one of the prominent centers in Asia dealing with genetic and inherited metabolic disorders and degenerative diseases. His opinion on such matters was sought by many pedia ­ tricians and specialist.s all over the country, ” noted an . obituary write-up on Bharu ­ cha in [iidian Pediatrics, De­ cember 1998. “He was constantly trying Pliaruelia: “no to expand the Clinic and to shartciits for Idin ” add on new tests and to liaise with better equipped hospitals outside India which could result in better diag ­ nosis, ” recalls Dr Jaishree Kamat, head of the department of pediatrics at the K. E. M. She referred to him as “a very good clinician whose sound medical knowledge helped him arrive at correct diagnosis, and an excellent teacher who enjoyed a lovely rapport with his stu ­ dents. ” At the condolence meeting convened by the dean of the Hospital “everyone spoke highly and emotionally of him,” added Kamat. “He wa.s always ready to help his students with their problems, academic or personal. His students re ­ spected him for his commitment, dedi­ cation and knowledge, and his peers and gurus valued his opinion. Everyone will miss the warmth and affection with which he greeted them,” concluded the article in Indian Pediatrics. As professor'of pediatrics at the G. S. Medical College he was “loved by all his students, ” attested Dr Anaita Udwadia-Hegde. “The student.s looked upon him as a friend they could confide in,” she added. Although she had known him as a family friend for over a decade, she got to learn of his “extremely nity’s traditions and rituals, Udwadia- Hegde remembers him trying to ascer ­ tain whether she was sure she wanted to marry a non-Parsi. Once he was con­ vinced of her decision, he respected it at all times. The philanthropy, the heritage, the culture of the Parsis gave him great pride and he frequently shared his views on this subject with his students. To him these assets of the Parsi community were as important as virtues like honesty and the courage to fight for the cause of the underprivileged for which the doctor was renowned. 60 Parsiana April 1999