Sep 1999

SEPTEMBER 1999 Rs 30 IM / ) ¦}/ t I •r J* ¦* :J. TJ. I f } .< -J w Bv .^. 1 .1 J, •4? / 7-*l’ Lt** iJ'*' .5 F' ^”1 J ¦< Z/j i 4 4- 7- r M- '- I, r Ur SiSeptember 1999 Volume 22 Number 2 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITORS Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Nivedita S. Dhotre MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera J. Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Jasmine D. Driver ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Hadvaid 2 Readers’ Forum 8 Events and Personalities 16 Zoroastrians Abroad 24 New Zealand Zoroastrians by Gustasp Irani 28 Billimora’s Gabba Adarlan centenary by Parinaz Gandhi 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 Sampada S. Patwardhan ACCOUNTS ASSISTANTS Indu Pillai, Sreevidya P. Unni OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 30 BPP deficit: Rs 1.39 crore by Arnavaz Mama 32 What price universal adult franchise? by Dinshaw Tamboly 34 The case for universal adult franchise by R. Tirandaz and D. Mehta 36 Decorating Dilnaar Ahmadullah by Hilla Guzder 38 Homi Taleyarkhan: A hall, a lecture and memories... 42 Farhang Irani’s eateries 46 Business 48 Sports 49 Sri Lanka Parsis: Treasured on the island - 2 53 Books 54 Milestones Cover: A weeping willow in New Zealand Photo by Gustasp Irani 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 Street (Behind Reserve Bank of India), Bombay 400001. Phone: 2658619, 2665661. Fax: 2654585. Annual inland subsc^ption 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/Euro 14; for two years Rs 1,100/US $ 27/UK £ 17/Euro 26; for three years Rs 1,595/US $ 38/UK £ 23/Euro 36 (please allow six months or more for seamail delivery from the time of publication). Airmail for one year Rs 850/US $ 23/ UK £ 15/ Euro 22 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 650); for two years, Rs 1,600/US $ 43/UK £ 27/Euro 41 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,225); for three years Rs 2,400/US $ 60/UK £ 37/Euro 57 (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; for Euro cheques add Euro 5. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana.READERS’ FORUM I J" R,3 :t put together a team of well respected negotiators that would hammer out the details for a world body constitution, we Parsis could soon see the re-emer- gcncc of the greatest community of NOSHIR L. HANSOriA Kansas. USA hi I 1^0? iwsi sin?.' >g g Readers’ views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. G.P.O. a laid-back community \ people of destiny As I opened and read the June issue in Kansas City of mid-Westerners tar from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan America — 1 was filled with pride and excitement to see the front cover display Ruby Hall in Poona, and generously splashed across the pages were photos of Dr Hector and Tehmi Grant, son Purvez, Anu Aga, Adi uncle and Jini aunty, Freny Grant, Rusi Batlivalla ct al. All my family. And in the same issue wa.s the struggling community of Ncemuch. Isolated in the middle of India, this community lights to survive and retain its identity against great odds. J'he Parsi.s will not perish from this earth. We have been through worse. We are a people of destiny. Wc arc special. We need to once again rise to the task of putting this vast fragmented commu ­ nity together so our children know their roots and whence they came from. With the Internet and all the wealth of infor ­ mation it brings, there i.s a compelling reason why a spider web of communi ­ ties around the world be grouped to­ gether for local, regional, national and continental support — synergistically, people. The Jewish community has done a J marvellou.s job of stitching together wk' diverse communilie.s around the world Sanctity of dokhmas under one Hag. This harks back to the The trustees of the Bombay Parsi days ofyore when a Parsi anywhere was Punchayct (BPP) are aware that our a Parsi first and then a Brit, or an Indian, or a (spoilt) Yankec! There was pride in being a Parsi then. After all, wherever they went, the local communitie.s were naming streets and parks and hospitals after the great Parsi builders and bene ­ factors. It is true that a whole generation of Parsis from the early 1960s were in­ volved in a massive and a dispersive migration, the like.s of which we have never experienced before. Wc are now represented in all the continents of the world. As we settle down to the mun ­ dane regimen of raising a family, estab ­ lishing our roots and blending into the landscape of the local community, I propose that we establish ourscive.s as the tallest tree in the area, bring pride and self-esteem back into the commu ­ nity of Zoroastrians. Let our children be proud of their heritage. Only by taking on a global vision can we expect to achieve in today ’.s changed environ ­ ment the same sense of loyalty, unity, camaraderie, brotherhood that we had in Bombay a.s I wa.s growing up. When I was growing up, the ‘Parsas ’ of Bombay were a motley group of disparate communities. From the ‘aris ­ tocrats ’ ol'Churchgatc and PedderRoad to the middle-class communitic.s of Dadar and Cusrow Bang to the modest communities of Grant Road and the charity buildings. Wc played cricket together, wc had friend.s all across town and wc dated acros.s socioeconomic lines. But we were all Parsis first, last and everything in between. Today, we arc poised on the thresh ­ old of synergising our efforts through the coming together of the three main governing bodie.s of our community: the World Zoroastrian Organisation, The Federation of Zoroastrian Associa ­ tions of North America and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. They are collectively doing a magnificent job. If they would 2 Parsiana September 1999 community attaches a great sentiment and emotional value to the environ ­ mentally friendly system of dokhme- nashini which has admirably withstood the test, vicissitude and vagarie.s of time. Keeping in mind the sentiment.s of the community, the trustees reiterate that their intention is to strengthen the system, not to change it. It i.s a known fact that for various reasons such as rapid urbanization, heavy infusion of pesticides in crops, mechanical processing at abattoirs, etc the global population of vultures is de ­ clining. The BPP trustees have been seized of the situation for quite some time now, and have already undertaken various measures to ensure that the system of dokhmenashini largely rc- main.s unaffected. The BPP trustees have been in con­ sultation with our High Priests, Dastur Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa and Dastur Firozc Kotwal. They have also con­ sulted other respected members of our community such as Khojeste Mistrec, Dr Homi Dhalla, Noshir Dadrawala, Ervad Parvez Bajan, Ervad Ramiyar Karanjia, Ervad Rooyintan Peer, Ervad K. N. Dastoor and Adi Doctor who arc knowledgeable about the issue.s in ques ­ tion and have been making available the benefits of their expertise. Our scholars have all maintained that the primary source of disposal are the rays of the sun or Khorshed Nagi- rashni, and the role of the vultures, whilst secondary, is albeit important, not from any scriptural point of view, but because over the year.s it has proved to be very effective. However, we live in times that arc quite distinct from the earlier ones, and whilst continuing with our revered sys ­ tem of dokhmenashini, we now have to come to terms with reality and address the issuc.s that have unfolded before us. The BPP trustees have already taken¦i For an authentic Udvada experience Globe Hotel and Hotel Majestic Contact 02638-70282 Majestic 02638-71144,70243 Globe Managed by Neville Godiwalla the professional advice of a UK based internationally re ­ nowned lady who is the owner/director of the world ’s largest institute on birds of prey. She was invited to visit our estate, which she has done, and has forwarded her report which deals on the various methods of raising vultures in captivity. Keeping in focus, various statutory constraints and reli ­ gious sensitivities, the BPP trustees have to proceed with extreme caution. This is at the very best a long-term project which may or may not crystallize, depending on various reasons, happily, none of them being lack of interest by the trustees. In close coordination with the BPP trustees, a small team of well-intentioned, committed and dedicated Zoroastrian professionals is also working towards introducing variou.s measures which would reinforce our existing system of dokhmenashini. They are pooling their talents in diverse areas, all of which enjoy the sanction of our high priests and scholars. The intention of this write-up is to keep members of the community abreast of the steps being taken by the BPP as it is apprehended that ill informed comments on this matter in the Press may be deleterious to the community ’s interests. DINSHAW TAMBOLY Trustee, Bombay Parsi Punebayet g 13/13, Sai Niketan, B Wing, 345, Mount Road, Mazagaon, Bombay 400010 Tel Nos 3775842, 3775360, 3742065, 3717036 More “Parsi myths” With reference to a couple of letters in the April ’99 issue of Parsiana (namely “Outlived the dokhmas? ” and “The three Parsi myths ”), I embark upon this humble effort, not to provide any justification for our time-tested tarikats, but instead to drive home a point that just because we are in the For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 3099648 Fax 3073483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 4 Parsiana September 1999nuclear age does not mean we do away with our long-standing customs and traditions. For if we do, what do we have left? Whereas, in most casc.s the Zarathushti religion is explainable sci ­ entifically, there are certain aspects of it (like every other religion) that may not seem to make much sense in this day and age, and yet these are very vital for the preservation of our faith. In “Outlived the dokhmas? ” the writer has decided that the dokhmas need to be done away with, because of one scene in a movie wherein he wit­ nessed a vulture “tearing apart and de ­ vouring its prey. ” The writer should consider himself fortunate not to have witnessed the digging up of a grave. Tlie horror of the sight of millions of maggot.s devouring a corpse i.s far more disturbing but just because this decay occurs beneath the ground, some people are of the opinion that it is kinder to the dead. We couldn ’t be further away from the truth. As for the Hames of an incin ­ erator, what they do to the body behind the iron door is best left unsaid. But again, the only thing positive about this is that the proccs.s is actually shielded from our eyes, Wherea,s no one seems curious enough to dig up graves and see what happens underneath, or in the working,s of the incinerators, people for some reason seem to be obsessed with entering our dokhmas. As for making the dokhmas more efficient to suit present-day needs, steps are being taken by the concerned au- thorities to facilitate the speedy de ­ struction of the corpse, without deviat ­ ing from the basic mode of disposal, i.c, Khorshed Nagirashni. As for the odor the people put up with in the vicinity of the Towers these people should con­ sider themselves fortunate to live in such a lush and lovely part of Bombay, for there arc millions who live in ap ­ palling conditions, with the smell of sewage, amidst industrial pollution, chemical radiation, in the vicinity of crematoria where the air abounds in the ashes of the dead. Instead of becoming a community of wingers and finding fault with every religiou.s dictum of ours, it i.s high time that Parsis use their heller intellect for the betterment of the place for Hi.s prophets and the com- community . Just because the Zarathushli religion i.s tolerant of criticism to itself doe.s not give people the license to lash out at it via the printed or any other media for that matter. People arc free to make choices in the Zarathushti reli ­ 6 Parsiana September 1999 gion and then live out the consequencc.s of such an act. Similarly, one can choose one’s mode of exit, i.e. via burial, cre ­ mation or exposure, but asking for an ancient tradition to be changed because it seems repulsive to some, well that ’s another thing altogether! As for “The three Parsi myths, ” why three, depending on how you look al it, everything in a religion is myth. Is it not? Will people be asking next for proof that our Prophet Zarathushtra existed? Just because there are a few hymn.s ascribed to this seer in the past, i,s it enough proof of hi.s existence? Did the able writer slop wearing his sudreh- kiisli when the bullet-proof vest wa.s invented for bodily protection? I am sure not. One may wonder about the relevance of certain age-old rituals, but to demand a scientific explanation for them, and in the absence of which to call for their being done away with, amounts to childishness. A people with ­ out a tradition arc like a ship without a rudder! All great rcligion.s survived because of the importance placed by them on ritual...whether it be circumci ­ sion of newborns or sacrificing of ani ­ mals in the name of God, whether it be Sunday Mass, or the sacred application of bull ’.s urine. Even the army and navy of a nation have a number of elaborate rituals. Horsc.s are still extensively used in these rituals (in parades, etc) although the automated car has been long invented. Now if horsc.s arc still a part of an army ’s ritual, can we not justify keep­ ing the intrinsic bits of our tarikats which ihemsclvc.s arc steeped in sci ­ ence? Just as we do not forsake the power of prayer in spile of the vast advantages marie by medicine, simi ­ larly it would be quite out of the ques ­ tion to sacrifice the consecrated nirang in favor of Detlol ! Then there are many things science cannot explain, for example, how a bee can lly, or even why out of all the known planet.s in the universe, why i.s it only Earth that developed life forms? If we humans still have the dignity to retain the relevance of Almighty God in this nuclear age, surely we can make Calcutta Club’s reunion Nestled among the little tents that dot the spaciou.s open maidan in the heart of Calcutta lies the Calcutta Parsee Club (CPC). Founded in 1908, it boasts of the cheapest membership in the world. Yet it gives much more to its members and the community than it receives. Nine months ago, the Club celebrated its 90th anniversary with a series of well-attended functions spread over a month. We are now organizing a Mil ­ lennium Reunion of our many members and well-wishers and invite all Parsis of Calcutta origin to attend. Many of you arc now settled in different part,s of the globe but continue to give moral and mandments expounded by them and by financial support to your beloved Parsee their closest disciples? Club. This will be a unique event at which we expect a minimum of 100 out-of-towners, if not more. The celebrations, presently planned continued on pa;^e 52 And in the words ol our own beloved Prophet Nabi Zarathushtra (Y asna 53.6, I quote I'roni the more poetic rendition by Dr J. N. Sidhva): “The lure.s of untruth which appear to attract. Will actually from your spiritual selves detract. The veil of dim light of those bearing woe Doth obscure the deceit of truthfulness ’ foe. These wicked ones who are the bearers of strife Do verily pervert our spiritual life. ” PA,SHM1NA M. CONTRACTOR Kathmandu, Nepal “Parity with priests” In response to “Parity with priests ” by Dali Gundevia (Readers ’ Forum, Par- siana, February-March 1999) I wish to quote some memorable instance.s which I will carry throughout my life. In De­ cember 1997, I attended a jashan cer ­ emony al Cama Baug, Bombay per ­ formed by Ervad Keki Ravji where prayers were recited in a unique man ­ ner, with true emotion. After the jashan ceremony I wa.s told by a friend of mine that had I heard the prayers recited by his father the late Ervad Kavas Ravji, I would have experienced a soul-stirring sensation. On another occasion in March 1999, jashan prayers were recited in a loud clear voice by Homi Govadia of Mahim, at our flat in Shapur Baug. Never have I witnessed so serene an atmosphere. I felt I was in ininoi jehan (divine spiri ­ tual world). I'AROKH NAVARO_.I1 DARUWAl.A Micldle.sex, UKEvents and Personalities a Effective youths An electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, a blood pressure monitor, an instrument sterilizer, an x-ray viewing light, an examination light, a pathological test kit and a kerosene and diesel operated generator were among the equipment gifted to Udvada ’s Seth M. C. Damanwala Charitable Dispen ­ sary by the WZO (World Zoro ­ astrian Organisation) Youth Wing, according to a write-up submitted by Zubin Mistry . “This charitable dispensary is boon...to the residents and visi ­ tors in the village, ” added Mistry specifying that Rs 6(),()()0 wa.s spent by the WZO Youth Wing to provide better facilities there. The elderly residents of Udvada will now no longer need to travel far for prompt and effi ­ cient medical aid, commented Keki Dastur, president of the Damanwala Trust, at a function on June 20, 1999 at the idyllic two-storeyed seaside dispensary. He congratulated the WZO Youth Wing on it.s continuing effort.s to improve the quality of life in Udvada through it.s long ­ term “Project Udvada. ” Dastur mentioned that the Dispensary was founded in 1867 and that the present premises were donated by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust in 1924. Major repairs in 1995 were made possible llirough the largesse of the WZO Trust Funds and Cyrus Unwala. Expressing the hope that the resident rloclor Chetan Ondia would continue here I'or a long time and that the rapid turnover of doctors at the Damanwala Dispensary would halt, Sarosh Bana, president of the WZO Youth Wing out- linctl their future plans. Whilst recogniz ­ ing the need to help the residents he urged 8 Pitrsiana September 1999 them to identify their requirements and come forward with possible solutions. The Youth Wing is keen to start a gymkhana, set up a permanent exhibition on Udvada and the Iranshah, revive the local community center, open an old people ’s home and have Udvada de- * ¦V Top: Bono ciddressinp the palherin^ (It Udvodo's f)oiii(iiiw(d(i Dispeiisaiy Below: Youths who porticijKited in WZO’s trecisiirc' hunt dared as a heritage precinct and a pilgrim center. "He debunked the misgivings of certain vested intercst.s that the Youth Wing was attempting to alter the basic character ol LJdvada by facilitating in- dustrie.s to be introduced into the area. He assured the audience that the Youth plus a dinner for four at the Chung Fa Restaurant on Warden Road, the team captained by Kaizad Mistry won the Wing’s objective was not only to retain the identity of this sacred haven of the Iranshah but to restore it to its former glory by encouraging traditional local crafts like the weaving of kustis and torans, ” a.s per Mistry ’s report. The members of the Youth Wing then entertained the gathering with their banner song, Udi Ud! Ud! Udvada, composed by Homi Bana, which wa.s also sung on March 21, 1999 when the second anniver ­ sary of the Youth Wing was celebrated. At the Jamshedi Navroz function at Bombay ’s Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Adi Marzban ’s popular natak Dinshajiiia Dabba Gul wa.s per- formed by the famous Yazdi j Karanjia troupe from Surat to ' raise fund.s specifically for their t “Project Udvada, ” as per a write- , Jml up submitted by Zenia Mistry. IP Eminent economist and Tata Son.s director Dr Fredie Mehta ¦ who was the chief guest on the occasion expressed his personal interest in the development of Udvada and exhorted all Parsis to lend their support. The active Youth Wing or ­ ganized yet another function, a treasure hunt in the morning of June 6, 1999 which was Bagged • - off from the Parsi Gymkhana. Organized by Zubin Mistry and Armin Chokscy, 24 teams comprising nearly 100 individuafs participated in the event that took them past Malabar Hill, Warden Road, Mahalaxmi, Prabha- devi, Byculla, Tardeo, Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point and back again to the Gymkhana in time for a lunch of chicken dhansak and mutton kebabs. The winning team captained by Phiroze Katrak got the first prize of Rs 1,000 'o ¦ \ •f ‘g in the sitting room which was alive with the sound of Parsi Gujarati. Almost im ­ mediately my eyes fell on the fireplace: a flickering diva kept vigil over the spot where a crackling fire raged each win­ ter. Yes, I was amongst friends even though they had been strangers only the community seemed to be working! momentsago. ... It soon became apparent that the com­ munity here consisted of families, most with playful kid.s who knew each other well. Even the few bachelors and single women here had migrated to New Zealand with their families. Most were way of his cottage in the suburbs of Auckland, it was more than apparent that New Zealand was finally and truly home and Bombay was a fond memory. The crucial point in the transition, ac ­ cording to Daji, was when he came to terms with the fact that in the job market, a resident New Zealander alway.s gets preference over the migrant, even if the latter is better qualified. The trick i.s to compro ­ mise a little at first and accept a position even if it i.s an insult to one’s quali ­ fications and then work and prove one’s mettle. Once the bosses recog ­ nize a person ’s true worth and potential, they are willing to reward him with 1^ promotions. He also realized that unlike India, changing jobs was the norm rather than the exception. In­ deed, it is quite possible that if a person were to go on a long vacation and someone filled in effec ­ tively for him during that period, he might find him ­ self without work on his return. Of course, in a welfare state like New Zealand, where education is free up to high school, such hic ­ cups do not affect the chil ­ dren unduly. In addition, there are other cushions built into the system to . help people tide over dif ­ ficult patches. Soon Daji was driving hi.s family and me towards the party zone. The hosts, Meher and Farrokh Kolah, welcomed me to their beautiful cottage like a long lost friend. There were more greetings proposed a rousing toast to the Zoroas- trian community of New Zealand. She reassured them that the prophecy of Shah Varjavand ’s return was imminent and that he would ensure that the com­ munity here grew and prospered. Till the ‘savior ’ arrived, however, gin that direction. I could sense the gratitude they lelt towards their adopted country and a genuine desire to help interested Parsi Zoroastrians make the move. In 1 act there is one Zoroastrian lawyer who specializes in processing immigration applications. Party time for New Zealand Zoroas- trians and (l)elow) an overview of Auckland Photos: Gustasp Irani ^26 Parsiana Septerr)ber 1999 Of course, they were quick to point out that arriving in New Zealand wa.s not the end but rather the beginning of the adventure. One should be ready to face trials and tribulations at first but with the right attitude one will soon discover that the rewards are worth the effort. And if at any time they need a little help, one may alway.s lean on the community for a little dhansak and sym ­ pathy. _ Or wine and cheese! And smoked salmon, an HB assortment of cold cuts and ImW desserts: the table was brimming over with the bounty of New Zealand ’s culinary delights. This, 1 was told, was the first time the Parsi.s had decided to try something a little dif- ferent from the traditional dhansak parties that cel- ebrated their frequent get- HH togethers especially those held during festive and re- ligious occasions like Pateti and Navroz. Indeed, the Zoroastrian community in New Zealand may be acquiring new tastes but their com­ mitment to their heritage remains steadfast. Zoroastrian Help Lines Down Under The postal address of the Traditional Mazdayasni Zarathushtrian Associa ­ tion of New Zealand (TMZANZ) is P O Box 51-61 1, Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand. One may also get in touch with cither Jamsheed Sidhwa at 50B Millhouse Drive, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand, email: jsidhwa@ihug. co.nz or Farrokh Kolah at 21 Paisley Street, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand, email: hormozk@clear. net.nz (marked Attn: Farrokh Kolah). Both Sidhwa and Kolah will be happy to assist any Zoroastrians who need guidance or information about migrat ­ ing to New Zealand. To contact the Zarathushtrian Asso ­ ciation of New Zealand (ZANC), one may get in touch with Yazdi Mistry at 1 Bungalow Ave, Pt Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand, or Darius Mistry, e-mail: darius. mistry @imagetext.co.nz or Teh- mus Mistry, e-mail: tehmus@extra. co.nzRELIGION Benedictions for Bilimora Contributions from near and far made possible the renovation of the 100-year-old Gabba Adarian Supervising the consecration of the Dadabhai Dhanjibhai Gabbaand Sorabji Shapurji Gabba Adarian in Bilimora 100 year.s ago was Daslur Darabji Mahiarji Meherjiranaof Navsari. Lead ­ ing the jashan and hambandagi at the temple on the occasion of its centenary in lime of the centenary Cesli vi lies on April 27, 1999 was yet another high priest of Navsari, Dastur Mehcrji Meherjirana. For the resident Zoroas- Irian population of Bilimora, numbering nearly 200, the presence of a,s many devo ­ tees from Valsad, Chikhli, Gandevi, Pardi, Navsari, ? Surat and Bombay was a cause for rejoicing. Among the distinguished personages » who graced the .centenary function organized by the trustees of the Bilimora Parsi A A" sf! t ’-i. -Mu* ¦ Zoroastrian Anjuman ’s Trust Funds al TataBaug were chief guest Dr Sam Bhacca, presi- dent of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, an ­ other trustee of the Surat Panchayat Noshir Dabhoiwala and Ihn-e-Khsh- noomisl Ervad K.N. Dastoor of Bombay who was invited a.s the guest speaker to give a talk on atash, slated Marzban Baria, managing trustee of the Anjuman, in his report on the proceedings. Congratulating the Bilimora Anju- man trustees, Bhacca commended their efforts to renovate the Gabba Adarian and give it a new look whilst managing the Trust affairs and looking after the interests of the Parsi community. To show hi.s appreciation he presented a shawl to Baria. "Il mtide our hearts race with joy to sec the newly renovated agiary which now lake.s pride of (place) in the sleepy little village, ” wrote Rati D. Wadia, prin ­ cipal of Bombay ’s Queen Mary School i n her report on the function . “The Adarian has received a completely new face-lift with a beautifully tiled front facade with a glowing atash and asho farohar on the lop, and the two winged bulls on the 28 Parsiaiia September 1999 Parinaz M. Gandhi inside wall," she continued. More than 21) limes the origintil amount of Rs 23,000 spent on building and fur ­ nishing the Gabba Adarian was expended on the repair and renovation of the fire- 1999, noled Baria. As the building had deteriorated substantially, major renova ­ tion was essential, mentioned Baria in his .¦i; •. Sftf se»lhJ ?hn!y : “UAF would politicize the ¦b Dinshaw K. Tamboly 1 would like to begin this article with two quotes on democracy: “Democracy is only an experiment in government, and it has the obviou.s disadvantage of merely counting votes instead of weighing them. ” — W. R. Inge (I 860-1954), Dean of I .St Paul ’s, London I "Democracy i.s the worst I form of government except I all those other form.s that I have been tried from time I Io lime. ” — Sir Winston | Churchill in a speech at the House of Commons, No­ vember 1947 In India, universal adult franchise (UAF) i.s used to elect representatives to mu ­ nicipal corporations, leg ­ islatures, central or state. UAF i.s part of an election BPP" proccs.s through which the public elects their rcprcscntativc.s to serve and govern them, provide infra ­ structure developments, levy taxes, etc. And it is the perception of some Zoro- asliian.s residing in Bombay that the prevailing system of electing Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee.s must be scrapped and UAF introduced. The populist UAF concept enables indivitluals to feel that they have partici- paled in and contributed toward.s the crcalion of an assembly that would serve anti govern them. However, in the case of a public charitable trust such a.s the BPP, it is essential for all concerned to realize that the trust subsists on donation.s re ­ ceived, and on interest from donation.s alrctidy received and capitalized. Centuries ago the BPP was estab ­ lished to administer the donations ceived lor the welfare of the community. Initially the donors elected the trustees as custodians to safeguard the substantial re- 32 Pcirsicina September 1999 assets which have accrued over the years. Donors supporting the BPP trust do so alter taking into consideration its consti ­ tution, aims and objects. The present scheme of electing trustec.s i.s therefore also accepted and covered. A.s per the prevailing system, donor.s are rewarded by giving them an oppor ­ tunity to vote at the time of the election of trustees — a right based on ‘vested in­ terest, ’ which cannot be taken away by the introduc ­ tion of UAF. It is the opinion of vari ­ ou.s eminent jurists that it is very doubtful if any court would ever agree to alienate ground of the Punchayet. a right that ha.s been given on acceptance of a condi ­ tional donation. Thi.s is only one aspect of the issue. A very important issue that needs to be recognized is that the scheme for the election of trustees of the Fund.s and Immovable Propertie.s of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay wa.s originally sanctioned by bility that the introduction of UAF would the High Court of Bombay in suit no. 689 of 1906. The scheme has been suitably modified by the orders of the court during the year.s 1931, 1935, 1970, 1987, 1992 and 1993. In all the modifi ­ cations, the court ha.s continued to up ­ hold the right of the donors. An argument is also advanced that as most of the other anjuman.s and punchayct.s in India already have a sys ­ tem of UAF in their areas, the BPP, acknowledged to be the apex body of Parsi.s, should also follow suit. For the worthie.s who put forth this line of thought, it should be mentioned that these smaller anjuman.s and punchayct.s were not established to pre ­ serve any assets as in the case of the BPP, but were established more to keep the community together and to work for its welfare. In most of these cases, the institutions were first formed, and there ­ after began collecting funds for their local activities. The assets of the smaller anjumans and punchayets are minus ­ cule as compared to those of the BPP. Earlier, I too used to hold the view that there should be UAF in the BPP. My view at that time was based on a lack of background information and other realities. I gradually began to change my view in this matter, pursuant to a discussion that I had, among others, with Nani A. Palkhivala, before 1 was elected a trustee of the BPP, when he explained to me the genesis and back- Aftcr I assumed office as a trustee of the BPP, my view that UAF i.s at the present not a suitable system for elect ­ ing BPP trustees has been further rein ­ forced. I have realized that at present the disadvantages of UAF far outweigh its advantages. It must be remembered at all time.s that the BPP trustees are custodians of substantial assets. It is a distinct possi- result in the politicization of the BPP, with parties being formed and whips being issued to elected representatives^ on how to vote. If UAF were introduced, chances are that the elections would thereafter not remain value-based but could possibly degenerate into becoming party-based. It is not difficult to imagine the im ­ mense harm that would befall the com­ munity if a group with personal vested interests managed to get their represen ­ tatives elected by making false com­ mitments and thereafter presided over the dissolution of the substantial assets. In such an eventuality what recourse would the community have? We have before us varied examples of the manner in which some individu-If all Parsis are really keen to partici ­ pate in the election of BPP trustees, the simplest thing for them to do is become members of the General Register by paying the meager subscription of Rs 5. This would enable them to participate in the voting for the electoral college by electing members of the Anjuman Com ­ mittee (AC). At this stage, the actual position at the time of the last election (February/ March 1993) of the AC needs to be mentioned. Out of 18,521 member.s reg ­ istered on the General Register who were eligible to elect members of the AC, only 3,541 (19.11 percent) indi- Another fact worth considering is that whilst there were 18,521 members on the rolls of the General Register on November 30, 1992, the number has increased to 19,611 as on March 31, 1998, an increase of 1,090 members (5.56 percent), and that too over a pe­ riod of fivc-and-a-half years. This is the level of interest that the rank and file of Zoroastrians have in BPP elections. To sway innocent people with prom ­ ises and words is a very simple thing to do. However, to analyze and realize shortcomings and highlight issues by als whom we elect to the municipal corporation, state assembly or Lok Sabha discharge their duties. Arc we, those who vote for such individuals, in a position to do anything? Do wc want to introduce such situations in the man ­ agement of the BPP? Can we not learn from the lessons of history ? Is it neces ­ sary for us to condemn ourselves to repeat it? Have we not realized that UAF i.s the reason why quality indi ­ viduals of repute shy away from con­ testing elections to legislatures and municipal corporations? It is also worth remembering that a public charitable trust such as the BPP functions according to specific objects viduaks exercised their right, and i.s not an open arena. Generally, seasoned individuals with wide experi ­ ence and a good background, who have been successful in their careers, are elected trustees to enable the trust to derive optimum benefits. It must be remembered that even elections to all public positions arc not always by way of UAF. In the case of election to certain public offices such as the President of India or membership of the Rajya Sabha, the election is by an electoral college, just as in the case of BPP trusteeship elections. The BPP is today perhaps one of the placing them in their proper perspec- oldest functioning trust.s in the world, and its present voting system, with pe­ riodic changes, has admirably stood the vicissitudes of time. The grass alway.s looks greener on the other side of the fence. Similarly, UAF is a concept that looks to be attrac ­ tive when it is far away. The nearer it arrives the blemishes begin to show. Consider the following opinion held by necessary have the courage to stand up no less an individual than Palkhivala (ref The Free Press Journal, April 28, 1998, article titled “Six Fatal Mistakes, ” when he refers to the golden jubilee of India ’s independence): “First, our greatest initial mistake was to start with adult franchise. No democracy ha.s ever paid, all things considered, a heavier price for adult franchise than India. “'I'wo of our greatest statesmen of the earlier years were C. Rajagopala- chari and Sardar Vallabhai Patel. When the Constituent Assembly was in ses ­ sion, both these stalwarts recommended that wc should not start with adult fran ­ chise but educate our people first to make them worthy of discharging their duties as citizens of a great democracy; but they were outvoted. ” / ¦t .•w With best wishes from Farah Tanya tive, and thereby possibly invite the wrath and condemnation of some sec ­ tions of the community, is a price that one placed in my position has to be ready to pay. My duty to my community, sitting trustee of the BPP, is to function according to the dictates of my con­ science without fear or favor, and when as a and be counted. At a juncture when the long-term wellbeing of the community could be threatened by the taking of incorrect decisions based on populist measures, I cannot remain silent, or run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. I would urge the proponents of UAF to view this issue with an open mind, objectively and rationally, without in­ troducing emotions, sentiments or ran ­ cor in the matter. After considering all possible issues, let them ask of themselves the question, “Is universal adult franchise a suitable system for election to the office of the trustees of the Parsi Punchayet Funds and Properties? ” If the proponents of UAF are honest with themselves, they shall not find the answer to be easy. & 33 Parsiana September 1999The case for universal adult franchise Rustom S. Tirandaz and Dinshaw R. Mehta Tirainkiz. (left) and Mehta: the cotiiiiitiiiity as a whole should elect trustees formed, which is not at all in the The electoral college (comprising 1,604 members in 1992 when elected) community ’s interest, ha.s already increased to over 2,000 members, and continues to grow with each donation of Rs 15,000. This in turn will automatically result in an increase in the number of elected members since the present scheme requires that the AC comprise of donors and elected mem ­ bers in equal numbers. Considering that there are not more than 20,000 registered members on the Samast Anjuman could be further reduced by deleting the and the number a- -V (I It is a matter of common observation that day by day more and more Zoroas ­ trians, especially of the new generation, are visiting the Iranshah at Udvada and other fire-temples on auspicious days. The maachis in all fire-temples are be ­ ing sought and for important day.s there is a waiting list. Zoroastrians are com­ ing together in larger numbers. The high and mighty are rubbing shoulders with the poor and lowly. A realization is dawning slowly but surely that we need to participate in community af ­ fairs or we shall perish. Enthusi ­ asm appears to be fast replacing apathy and nonchalance. But if not constructively channeled, this enthusiasm will be replaced by indifference. Not all Zoroastriaiis have an opinion on UAF, but most of them would like to be in the know of things. Major issues concerning the Parsi community have been handled by the Samast Anjuman in Udvada and other part.s of Gujarat. However, the BPP which originally started out as a group of custodians of charities sponsored by do-gooders almost 350 years ago has now unwittingly become the apex body of the community. The government has always looked on the BPP to give it clear indications on matters of religion and sociology, such as the issue of adoption among Zoroastrians, for one. j! old, infirm and dead — and given the past trend in the percentage of polling, the actual possible voting members would not be more than 15,000 persons. On the basis of an amendment proposed Whenever there is an unclaimed dead voters for every donor, the new AC in November ’99 could have around 3,500 members. This is absurd and absolutely un ­ heard of anywhere in the world under any system or scheme. The idea of having an electoral college presupposes that the electorate as a whole i.s cither loo large or i.s ill equipped to take only of Bombay but of the world, what proper decisions. This i.s certainly not the case with the Zoroastrian commu ­ nity in Bombay. On the contrary, by depriving the electorate of a direct right to vote, one biggest troupe of qualified priests any- is obviously acting in an anti-demo ­ cratic manner and preventing the popu ­ lar view from being expressed. In these circumstances, an electoral college can only result in power politics, clique.s and coteries such as CER (Committee for Economic Revival) and CUZ (Com ­ mittee of United Zoroastrians) being A.s Zoroastrians move into the next millennium, there is a crying need for Ihcir participation in community af ­ fairs. With the term of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet ’s (BPP) present Anju ­ man Committee (AC) (which elects trustees) coming to an end in November ’99. there i.s an opportunity for the community to promote a sea change in its entire outlook. Tricky issues that can only be settled with the total participa- M tion of the community can now become soluble issues if, to be- B gin with, we can introduce uni- B versal adult franchise (UAF) for W the direct election of the com- munity akabars, the trustees of the BPP — a system touted by ¦ almost every candidate before the election, but neglected sub ­ sequently. The controversy about adopt ­ ing UAF for electing BPP trustees ns being created by persons who fear that they will not be able to control and manipulate a larger electorate, as they can a small electoral college. All the so- called learned, legal and constitutional arguments advanced by those persons against UAF are nothing but attempts to retain control in their hands. The issue i.s being given an intellectual garb in an by the trustees, to have two elected body in the city morgue, identified as a attempt to conceal the play of power voters for every donor, the new AC in Parsi by the sudreh and kusti, after the politics. November ’99 could have around 3,500 lapse of the statutory period the body is Under the present scheme of elec- members. handed over to the BPP for the last rites tions, from among the adults in Cusrow This is absurd and absolutely un- and disposal. The same is the case with Bang (which boasts of being the cream heard of anywhere in the world under intestate wealth and property left be- ol the community) less than 100 per- any system or scheme. The idea of hind by dead Zoroastrians. sons arc eligible voters lor the trustees ’ having an electoral college presupposes Over the years the BPP has emerged election Irom the combined registers of that the electorate as a whole i.s cither as the apex body of Zoroastrians not donor and elected members. The Dadar Parsi Colony, which boasts of an adult population of more than 4,000 Zoroas- trians, ha.s only around 100 voters for the election of trustees. It’s the same story everywhere. Only a fraction of Zoroastrian.s are deemed to be fit to vole directly. For it is felt by the oppo­ nents of UAF that the lime i.s not yet ripe, that the community i.s not ready and mature enough for adult suffrage. Wliat arrogance and vanity! Yet aZoro- asirian who i.s not a voter i.s eligible to contest the election a.s a trustee! with the largest single conglomerate of the community being clustered in and around the metropolis. With the largest Towers of Silence complex and the where in the world, the Zoroastrian.s of Bombay are the only really substantial, residual homogeneous section of the community left. The Doongerwadi Awareness Day attracted over 450 young and old Zoro ­ astrians despite the fact that there was continued on page 47 34 Parsiana September 1999PROFESSIONS Decorating Dilnaar In recognition of her distinguished service, Dilnaar Ahmadullah of the British Deputy High Commission was awarded an Honorary MBE Brass raiIings gleam, lloor.s sparkle. Se­ curity is tight, with a series of inter ­ locked doors leading from one room to another. “Ours is the second busiest visa issuing section in the world, ’’ states Dilnaar Ahmadullah, head of the visa section at the British Deputy High Commission al Nariman Point in Bombay. Ahmadullah was awarded an Honorary MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her distinguished service towards British interests. “The award came completely out of the blue, I wa.s stunned and all I could say was ‘thank you, thank you, ’" smiles soft-spoken Ahmadullah. As immigration office manager, a post she ha,s held for 19 years, Ahmadullah heads the complex and sen ­ sitive visa service, dealing with over 60,000 applications annually and almost 1,000 applicatioms on peak days. Super ­ vising over 20 local staff and providing a continuity with the frequently chang ­ ing UK-based staff, Ahmadullah has people from East Africa who became “consistently impressed senior manage ­ ment and entry clearance officers alike with the very high quality of her work... She is a most loyal, hard working lady who leads by example, ” noted a com ­ mendation which was read out when the award wa.s conferred on her by the Brit ­ ish Deputy High CommissionerMichael provided of course they meet all other Bates on May 14, 1999. The order i.s in the form of a badge on a rose pink ribbon showing the imprints of King George V and Queen Mary, with the motto ‘For God and the Empire ’ and is accompa ­ nied by a citation. It was created 82 years ago, states a press release, by George V to recognize the efforts of individuals across the world who had assisted Britain during "World War 1. It was the first time women and foreigners were included in an order of chivalry! 36 Parsiana September 1999 Hilla P. Guzder Nominations arc scrutinized by specially appointed committees of cxpcrt.s from different walk.s of life and the final list is sent to 10, Downing Street to be ratified by the British Prime Minister. “Yes, one does feel good when one’s work is ap ­ preciated, ” states Ahmadullah. “Immigration profiles have changed over the 30 years I have been with the British Deputy High Commission, ” she remarks. In the l970s, there was more immigration and very little tourist traf ­ fic. Now, with the more liberal eco­ nomic policies of the government, there is a wide spectrum of visitors taking advantage ofthe numerous package tours available. “Television program.s have also fed people's wanderlust and now you see even retired people venturing out, wherea,s earl ier they would not have dreamed of using their hard-earned sav ­ ings on touring!" she says. Visaapplica- tion.s come from Bombay and surround ­ ing area.s and from the interiors of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Because of the large number of Gujarati-speaking British citizens, the announcements in the visa section arc made in three lan ­ guages — English, Hindi and Gujarati! UK citizens of Indian origin often come to India and choose a spouse who is then youth was the Calcutta Parsee Club (a granted immigration rights, as are de ­ pendent parents, as well as children. o criteria, a major one being sufficient accommodation, explains Ahmadullah. “It may be okay for five to six people to live in one room in India, but UK law doe.s not allow that, ” she elucidates, adding that most people arc quite truth ­ ful and in her estimation hardly one percent of people who go on a visitor ’s visa do not return. It is much easier to ‘disappear ’ in the USA because of it.s vast size, she says. “Fill in your form properly, bring the documents required and tell the truth! ” she recommends. “We do understand genuine problems, but when someone say,s her mother can ' t come in person because she is too old and she turns out to be 52, or because she has diabetes, these arc not genuine prob ­ lems! ” The number of Indian students going to British universities has also increased and almost 800 students were issued visas last year, she says. Very few young UK Parsis, however, seem to seek a spouse from India and she believe.s one can count on one’s fingertips the num ­ ber of Parsi boys and girls going to the UK after marriage. Born in Delhi to Bejon and Khorshed Talati, Ahmadullah spent the first six years of her life there. The family moved when the Central Bank of India trans ­ ferred her father to Indore. “The Parsi.s of Indore were like one big family, ” she recollects. Three years later it was on to Calcutta which was the hometown of her mother ’s Gazder family. There were almost 3,000 Parsis in Calcutta at that time though you probably wouldn ’t sec what you might call a ‘typical ’ Parsi in Calcutta a.s you would in Bombay, be ­ cause of the lack of bangs or colonies, she observes. “My greatest joy in my. o' small tent out in a maidan!) and the worst punishment wa.s to be told on weekends that I could not go to the Club! The Navroz natak performers came from Bombay and there was always the excite­ ment of what to wear! ” she laughs. Bas ­ ketball, tennis, badminton and table ten­ nis were favorite sports but much of this was lost, she says ruefully, when she came to Bombay. Present interests in­ clude listening to pop, not classical, music and reading fiction by bestselling authors, particularly Indian ones! After her Senior Cambridge and BA with English Honors from Calcutta ’sLoretto House on Middleton Row, Ah- madullah worked for two years as an air host ­ ess with the BO AC (British Overseas Air ­ ways Corporation). Moving to Bombay with her Cambridge- educated husband Saleem a year after marriage, Ahmadullah joined the British Deputy High Commis ­ sion, then situated at Flora Fountain, in 1969. “My mother-in- law Deena was the sis ­ ter of Air-India ’s Bobby Kuka and the Kukas were partners in Globe Theatres Private Limited with the Sidhwas, with cinema houses in Bombay and Calcutta, ” she ex- * I Very few young UK Parsis seem to seek a spouse from India plains. The Ahmadullahs ’ son Zafar, I following in the footsteps of his father I and paternal grandparents, has also stud- j ied at Cambridge and is currently work ­ ing as an investment banker in the UK. * “Though he studied law at Cambridge, | finance has been his love from child- I hood, ” she chuckles. Though proud to I be a Parsi, she did not have her son ’s | navjote performed as “it is not allowed, ” she states matter-of-factly. “I would cer ­ tainly like to see a change, but the change should come from the community lead ­ ers themselves. ” As the community gets smaller with changing times, Ahmadullah believes a choice should be Terming the Parsis a “caring ” com- Above: Ahmadullah (right) with Bates given to the parents whether to perform munity, where a number of people do and (below) flanked by Saleem and the child ’s navjote or not, as the child is good work very quietly (like Scylla Zafar at Cambridge too young to decide for himself. “Ex­ treme rigidity serves no purpose. I would rather not have conversion, but have the child become a Zoroastrian if one parent is Zoroastrian. I would also feel very sad if the two people closest to me, my husband and my son, were not allowed to see my face when the end comes, ” 55- year-old Ahmadullah says. Terming the Parsis a “caring ” com ­ Vatcha for example, she observes), Ahmadullah quotes the instance of one of her office employees whose daughter who insisted she be taken only to that was suffering from aplastic anemia (see Hospital when she was ill. Parsis are “To the marrow borne, ” Parsiana, July- August 1999), for whom “help came quickly ” in ±e form of generous dona ­ tions. The Parsee General Hospital is “a very good community facility, ” she as- serts, citing ±e example of her mother also, by and large, “loyal and good work ­ ers who never let the office down, ” she opines — a fact reinforced by her own commitment and dedication to the job she has held for 30 years. 37 Parsiana September 1999INSTITUTIONS A hall, a lecture and memories.. The Red Cross Society receives a plush new hall dedicated to Homi Taleyarkhan’s memory as “Whenever I think of Homi it i.s giving a talk or listening to a talk. The idea of a meeting place is most appro ­ priate." remarked Dr P. C. Alexander, governor of Maharashtra, a.s he inaugu- ratetl the new Homi J. H. Taleyarkhan Memorial Hall at the Red Cross Build ­ ing in Bombay ’s Town Hall Compound on June 29, 1999. Gifted by Taleyar- ' khan'.s wife Thrity to the Red Cros.s Society and ¦HHHmHH tlie cily of Bombay to commemorate his first death anniversary, the elegant, airconditioned auditorium is a far cry from lhe original hall wliich the Society’s chairman Kersey Gher ­ da, described in his wel ­ come address a.s “dark and dingy. ” Moreover, the melamorphosi.s wa.s effected in just 18 day.s with architeeh Urvaksh Aga and con­ tractor Bond Vania and their men from Hormuzd Company working round lhe clock with a speed and dedication com­ parable to the late Taleyarkhan ’s own fondnes.s forquick execution of projects, as noted Homai Modi, honorary tary ol lhe Red Cross Society of Bombay and lhe evening’s compere. Midway down lhe side of the Hall Taleyarkhan ’s full-length portrait by Pawan Kumar smiles hi.s characteristic quizzical smile. Paucity of real estate at affordable rate.s in the city combined with senti ­ ment in Tlirity 'faleyarkhan ’.s choice of project. "For lhe last few year.s of hi.s life he worked here regularly, even the day he died, ” she told Parsiana. Recal I ing Taleyarkhan ’ s “great com­ mitment for service to the people, ” Alexander emphasized hi.s “total, unre ­ served involvement. ” When asked by the International Committee of lhe Red Cros.s to suggest an individual capable HP sccrc- 38 Parsiana September 1999 Arnavaz S. Mama ol spearheading its rehabilitation work in post earthquake Latur, Alexander said he gave Taleyarkhan ’s name “with ­ out hesitation as one who would com ­ plete the projeel on lime. ” Taleyarkhan spent tireless days and night.s but deliv ­ ered two hospitals, five primary health centers, 24 primary health subccnlcrs. K Entrance to the new Hall in the Red Cross Hitildinit 135 staff quarters, a special ward for trauma patients, seven schools and a water supply project with 10 reservoirs in onc-and-a-half years, and presented the accounts a week before he died, attested the governor. Talcyarkhan ’s “total belief in being ol help to others ” led Alexander into examining the "tradition of service in Maharashtra. ” 'fracing the foundation of service to society ’s victims through Society B. K. Goyal who referred to spirituality over four centuries, Alexan ­ der ascribed these tenets to Hindu saints and philosophers like Dyaneshwar, Ramdas, Tukaram and 50 others who largely belonged to the nonpriestly classes. In the next phase social reform got shape and impetus from the 19th century onwards as Mahatma Phule, Behram Malbari and their ilk labored to mute social inequities. The revival of I national consciousness, the political activity to liberate India from the colo ­ nial yoke had generations of notables like Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Dinshaw Vatcha, S. M. Joshi, Vasantdada Patil, Yashwantrao Chavan and others in the third phase. In the post independence period, successful indus ­ trial empires, educational institutions, eminent law ­ yers flourished all over India, but in Mumbai they sported an ethical dimen ­ sion, profiting honestly. Alexander quoted J. R. D. Tata, “No success or achievement in material term.s is worthwhile un ­ less it serves the country J and its people and is done I honestly. ” I Placing the services of I Homi Taleyarkhan in that I context, Alexander noted I how the Maharashtrian tradition and Parsi heritage had strength ­ ened hi.s commitment to service. Divid ­ ing society into three sections, Alexan ­ der said there arc the few who make things happen, the few who watch things happen and the majority who have no idea of what ’.s going on around them. “Homi (belonged) to the first category, ” he concluded. Others to pay tribute to Taleyarkhan were Gherda who recalled his “yeoman service to the Red Cross ” and national vice chairman of the Indian Red Cross 11 iin as “an inIcgral part of this country ’ s life... one of the greatest citizens this inetropoli.s has produced. ” Modi re ­ membered how he “often jested that he was a racehorse ” who couldn ’t even wait for the start signal, calling her to work with him even when he lay in hospital with a drip in his arm. “A millennium gift to the Red Cross ” coin­ cidentally on the 50th anniversary ofI T i. .® .'57/ H ¦i !‘i^. I-.?; / V' c ¦ •. ¦H R-. •' B^"3 .'- F' J r “’X® ¦r 1 I K 40 Parsiana September 1999 Li -I- &¦« 51.^111': ,!• -4* Ji- •i ¦i£. The plush new auditorium (above) with Taleyarkhan’s portrait unveiled by Alexander (extreme left) Ackama Alexander, Thrity Taleyarkhan and Goy al look on. Below: The distinguished audience and Mukherjee (left) and Raj go pal garlanding the portrait before the BPL Urja lecture a5'& the Geneva Convention, as noted Bombay Red Cross vice president Dr Chandi Ballivala, the Hall will be a source of income to the Society which inlend.s to hire it out for bonafide func ­ tions. She also thanked the trustees of the Dorab Tata Trust for underwriting the waterproofing and reinforcement of the building to enable the 200 plus sealer Hall to be airconditioned. The dedication ofthe Hall by the governor was preceded by the invocation ol' uni ­ versal benign forces by the chanting of Vedic and Koranic verses, a hymn and an Avestan prayer. “May all those who make deci- sion.s in this Hall do so right B and implement them justly, ’’ B prayed Father John Rod- rigues, principal of Cam ­ pion School. 'O' i. The institution ofthe Homi j. H. Taleyarkhan Memo ­ rial Lecture series by the I BBL Urja Research Foun ­ dation wa.s flagged off with former union finance min- ister Pranab Mukherjee IHHfeMi speaking on “Consensu.s on economic policies — a few thoughts ” at the Bombay House Auditorium on June 25, 1999. The (unction had been cospon ­ sored by the 28-member H. J. H. Taleyarkhan National Memorial Com ­ mittee. Taleyarkhan had been the founder-chairman of IBPL Urja which policy has not changed significantly... is a non-governmental organization working in the field of energy conserva ­ tion. Its president Rusy Engineer paid tribute to Taleyarkhan ’s vast energy and subtle sense of humor while Urja vice president and the evening’s com ­ pere Dhun Baldawala read the mes- sage.s received from Alexander, Maha- rahstra chief minister Narayan Ranc and Urjachairman ProfM. G. K. Menon who wa.s attending a conference in Hun- gtiry. Urja vice chairman S. Rajgopal introduced the speaker and informed the gathering that their application for a • postal stamp commemorating Tale ­ yarkhan had been forwarded by the government to the philatelic commit ­ tee. Mukherjee recalled his two-decade long personal association with Taleyar ­ khan, referring to an occasion when the latter had averted a major crisis as gov­ ernor of Sikkim when three ethnic group.s were threatening an agitation, emphasizing Taleyarkhan ’s “depth of 41 Parsiana September 1999 undertanding and sincerity with which he pursued the cause. There are very lew who have the tenacity to take ideas Development Program we rank 139th to their logical conclusion, ” he added. With tax and legal authority and eco­ nomic commentator Nani Palkhivala consumption expenditure is crowding prominent among the other bigwigs in the audience, Mukherjee quipped, “Like all of you, I used to eagerly await Palkhivala ’.s comment on the budget — especially my first budget in 1982!” It was Mukherjee ’s contention that over the past few years a consensus on economic policy has emerged: “We policies... What we need is responsible ............................................ politics...that become.s the harbinger of economic 1................................. ' change and social transfor- ¦ ‘ ¦ ibPL Rfyinfh Ttwiidirfwn j mat ion. I® :yttdM(r>hrepii(iiu S-jt.ZaCtfyl t939 Os »Fr " 0 w Mukherjee (speakiiii^), Baldawala, Palkhivala, Rujgoptil, Engineer and Thrity Taieyarkhati have had lour governments at the Cen­ ter in the last three years. The essential nature and broad direction of economic While in power, political parties end up doing pretty much the same thing what ­ ever they might say when out of power. This i.s the logic of running a govern ­ ment. You have to be responsible and pragmatic. You also have to realize the limitations of doing U-turns... Some come to thi.s consensus out of convic­ tion, some come to it out of commit ­ ment, some come to it out of compul ­ sion and others come to it on the basis of the TINA factor — There Is No Alternative... Il is remarkable that when you look at the 25 slate governments in the country ruled by diverse political partic.s of varying economic and social ideologies... you will find a great simi ­ larity in the language and practice of economic policy. ” Much else that Mukherjee said was sobering: according to per capita in­ come by the World Bank Atla.s method ity, informs the letter, we rank 124th among 157 countries; 36 percent of the world's poor are in India and 50 percent of the Indian population is poor. According to the Human De­ velopment Index of the United Nations among 174 countries. We need invest ­ ment for growth but the “government ’s out its essential investment expendi ­ ture... It is not as if the agenda for action is not known. What is lacking... i.s the institutional framework for discussion and debate... a framework that ensure,s that politics does not needlessly and unnecessarily derail sensible economic ¦ All of Taleyarkhan ’s pa ­ pers — correspondence, memoranda, notes, state- ments, articles — will rest H at the Nehru Memorial Mu- ¦ seum and Library in New I Delhi, informs Thrity ¦ Taleyarkhan. The Museum m which began with the ’ " nucleus of the Nehru fam ­ now preserves the corre- ily paper spondence of nearly 700 distinguished Indians including politicians, diplo ­ mats, educationists, scientists and others who have contributed to the national welfare, a.s notes the letter from the Museum to Thrity request ­ ing her husband ’s papers. “The late Shri Taleyarkhan was not only an ardent patriot and a staunch national ­ ist but was also a dynamic organizer deeply devoted to the welfare of the Indian people. Our institution will consider it a great privilege if you are kind enough to accept our proposal and decide to deposit his papers in this institution for the purpose of his ­ torical research, ” wrote research of ­ ficer J. L. Gera in a letter dated Octo­ ber 28, 1998. The papers will be scientifically im­ munized and systematically cataloged. A copy of the list rests with the donor who continues to be the owner of the transferred material with the Nehru Museum acting as custodian, notes the letter. The papers and records are made available to bonafide research scholars in their supervised reading room facil- The Museum has taken delivery of a part of the papers and will be collecting the rest shortly, says Thrity.1 BUSINESS Irani ’s idlis Famed for their vegetarian fare, Farhang Irani’s three eateries in Bombay are well patronized Parinaz M. Gandhi “We have always been in the food busi ­ ness. My father, my grandfather, my... ” trails off Farhang Irani. “Looking at my size you can make out, ” says the rotund hotelier and restaurateur '’ «« « ! who with his chubby 720 cheeks and white beard, affable ways and gener ­ ous disposition brings to mind the familiar im ­ age of Santa Claus. Irani ’s presence though i.s not seasonal but pe- ‘ 's rennial at his eateries in Bombay. “We are the pioneers of pizza.s and idlis, ” he claims. “It is not that we discovered these items Irani: “You have to change or the recipes, ” he clari- with the times fies. They were being made and sold. But they would be made Mughlai and Chinese fare offered once a day and sold throughout the day alter reheating. Irani and his nephew Farshid Irani were of the opinion that customers deserved to be offered fresh fare. So using the pizza base they would bake it afresh each time. Their idlis steamed in the specially installed ma ­ chines were a favorite with the diners too and on festive occasions and pooja (how can you expect an Irani to make time Irani remembers receiving bulk orders during the five years they man ­ aged Sukh Sagar Snacks (on Sandhurst Bridge connecting Chowpatty to Opera House) in the early ’80s. The popularity of their venture gave them the confidence to launch their own Santosh Sagar in 1986 after they raised the necessary loan. Situated on Napcan Sea Road, diagonally across Priyadar- shini Park, this restaurant has a seating capacity of just eight and may get lost in plans for the future, Irani jests, “Now only the body is expanding. ” At 52 years he dream.s of “taking life easy. Ketlu inehnat kare inaanas (how much should a man slog)? ” rhetorically quires the businessman who has «! i s' male heirs. His two married daughters Afreen Framroze and Armin Irani not involved in the business. Farshid too is now settled in the USA. Every Monday and Friday Irani i.s at the Crawford Market by 6 a.m. to buy the supplies in the auctions. If the qual ­ ity of the products there is not good, it means making a trip to Vashi where the market has now shifted. The rest of the day sees him shunting between one or the other of his establishments. Until 1 a.m. he is present at one of his eateries, are here. They are content to balance their plates in and on their cars and their two-wheelers while they sample the all of which are usually open till 2 a.in. From Tuesday to Thursday he i.s at Silvassa. Sunday is one day he takes a break from work unless he is summoned in an emergency. When we interviewed him on Friday, July 23, 1999, he continued to man the cash counter at Sagar Snacks. As we stood to pose him one query after an ­ other, every time there was an exchange of cash with one of his waiters and an interruption in our conversation he would regular favorites like pav bhaji, idlis and dosas, and the newly introduced Mexican tacos and paneer-chilli rolls. Following the suc ­ cess of Santosh Sagar, Irani started Santosh Sagar Snacks on Tardeo Road, close to Haji Ali, which can accommo ­ date 35 diners. Then dutifully ask, “Kai khaso (will you eat came Sagar Snacks at something)? ” ultimately ensuring that Chowpatly, next to the Kilachand where nearly 150 indi ­ viduals can enjoy the Punjabi, south Indian, _____ I on their ground and mezzanine floors plus small open-air terrace. Are his vegetarian restaurants well patronized by members of the Zoroas ­ trian community? Not at all, maintains Irani, “Not because they are averse to days), ” confesses Irani. With the mush ­ vegetarian food but because they feel niooaa Irani iie soo idii hanaavta aavre -IL z ® ¦S ) we did not leave his restaurant without Garden sampling his idlis and pizzas and sweet lime juice. Even whilst responding to us, his observant eyes had not missed that there was a young schoolboy wait ­ ing outside for a glass of water, and his well-trained nose could detect the smell of gas from the kitchen! “Have pahle ni kani majaa iiathi dhandho karvaina (Running the restau ­ rant now i.s not as much fun as in earlier rooming of fast-food joints at every cor ­ ner, the business now is more competi ­ tive. When they started selling idlis, it was at Rs 2.50 a plate. Today it is Rs 15 per plate. But at that time a coconut was available for 60 paise whereas today it costs five rupees, he explains. “For- idlis)! ” Seven years ago he started the three- star Dan Tourist Hotel at Silvasa in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Havelli. Its 18 air-conditioned double merly we could be choosy about our occupancy rooms are available for Rs suppliers. With the increasing demand today they say 'niaal joito hoi to lai jao (if you are interested you can take the 450 per day, the vegetarian and non­ vegetarian restaurant and beer bar en­ ticing many tourists to Udvada to make stuff). ’” Despite all the travails, Irani a trip to this pleasant resort. When asked about his expansion the chain of shops during the daytime. Come dinner time and this place ac ­ quires a different vibrancy. Shortage of sitting space does not seem to deter those, mainly the youths, keen to eat 42 Parsiana September 1999 en- no maintains, “We can ’t complain. ” He would never think of selling out, he announces. “My managers are like my sons. I have full faith in them. One of them has been with me for 18 years, another for 28 years. ” Barring Zubin Kolah who is in charge of his Napean Sea Road restaurant, Irani regrets that heThe restaurant at Tardea with their popular idlis and dosas '6 6' tional trip to the Mahalakshmi Temple which is a weekly Fri ­ day routine, just as going to the Siddhi Vinayak Temple on Tuesdays and attending the Novena at the Mahim church on Wednesdays is part of his sched ­ ule. Every Sunday, it is time for the fire-temple near his residence at Fort. He did not know the name of the fire-temple but from the description of its location, it jobs at Snowmans (Breach Candy) and must be the Godavara Agiary. “At this Badshah Cold Drink (Santa Cruz) be ­ fore running Sukh Sagar Snacks and launching his own enterprise.s with Farshid with a substantial loan offered by his brother-in-law Khorram Irani. During his school days at St Peter ’s at Panchgani, Irani always dreamed of becoming a pilot, but being the only son in a family with four daughters, the parents refused to consider his wish. Come vacation time, Irani remembers food at reasonable rates and to ensure his father sending him to their bakery every morning trying to impress upon him that the practical lessons learnt spent on advertising, ” believes Irani who there will remain with him through life, not the ones seen in the movies! Today Irani is grateful for his father ’s fore ­ sight. Yc.s he can cook, “I am a very quiet and peaceful fire-temple I am happy to see the old priest every time and he is happy to see me, ” says Irani who has never professed to have any conservative leanings although wear ­ ing the sudreh-kusti at all times is a must for him. What is important for Irani is to main ­ tain the reputation of his restaurants as places offering good, authentic, hygienic has no other Zoroastrians in hi.s employment. “Aapraa poriao (our boys) want to go home at 5 p.m. If it is Saturday they have to take their girlfriend out. Sun ­ day.s they won’t come. I have had many Parsi boys who have left after 15-20 days...I ’m will ­ ing to take them in a.s partners but I have not found anyone till now. I am willing to give lO percent share of my profits plus a good salary but where are they? ” One of Irani ’s nephews, Aspandiar Irani, based in Dahanu, con- tinue.s to serve as Irani ’s partner since he had helped him out with a loan when he wa.s struggling to raise finance.s for his own ventures. Disillusioned with the members of his Irani fraternity, Irani says, “When you are on the downtrend, no one will help you. But when you are prosperin they will all come to your doorstep. Jealousy has ruined the Irani commu ­ nity. At one time there used to be an Irani shop at every street corner. Why have they all sold out? You have to change with the times. ” there will remain with him through life, is constantly impressing upon his staff Irani ’s father Merwan used to run the not the ones seen in the movies! Today the need to keep their patrons contented. Ideal Restaurant at Alice Building in the Irani is grateful for his father ’s fore- “People are willing to travel great dis- • Fort area which was a bakery cum res- sight. Yc.s he can cook, “I am a very tance,s if they are happy with the food taurant cum stores. When fire engulfed good cook,” he states, and is familiar and service, ” he has noticed. the building in 1973, the restaurant wa.s with the ingredients and proportions When dwindling profits haunt mem- burnt down. For seven years thereafter that go into making even idlis. “This is bers of all industries, be it the trendy the family were involved in a legal battle with the landlord which they ultimately lost and so had to start from scratch. There was a time when Irani sold ham ­ burgers and rolls made by his wife Frangis from a small outlet at Kcrmani Building on P. M. Road. He then took up ig, the goodwill of his customers. “One satisfied customer is worth Rs 50,000 ‘o with the ingredients and proportions that go into making even idlis. “This is very important otherwise niaanasa jewelry or garment, as has been Irani ’s niaathaa par chari jai (the employees can take you for a ride). ” The relationship between Irani and his employees at Sagar Snacks seemed to be cordial with the proprietor offer- RECIPES ing them prasad following his devo- Farhang Irani shares the recipes of four observation, he is sanguine that “those in the food and hotel business will al ­ ways thrive. ” 43 Parsiana September 1999Bi We never take our guests and breath-taking views for granted J f S' ©5 3 of their popular dishes with Parsiana readers. IDLIS (8 pieces) Semolina (100 g) Urad dal (100 g) Cumin powder (1 tsp) Salt (*/2 tsp) Soak semolina and urad dal in water separately for 15-20 minutes. Drain out water. Blend urad dal in grinder. Mix dal, semolina, cumin powder and salt and steam in cooker. i; St n :'b;b ¦L ' * 1 Lord’s Central Hotel Matheran 410102 Matheran Telephone 021483-0228 Fax 021483-0595 Bombay telephone 3867776 SAMBHAR Masoor dal (100 g) Tomato (I — chopped) Kashmiri chillies (2) Poppy seeds (2 tsp) Coriander seeds {Vi tsp) Cumin seeds (Vi tsp) Salt (to taste) Soak dal in water for 15-20 minutes. Wash and put to boil. Add tomato while boiling. On agriddleroastchillies, poppy seeds, coriander seeds and cumin seeds. Grind into powder and add to the cooked dal. Stir till flavor absorbed in the dal. For Navjote & Wedding Receptions COCONUT CHUTNEY Coconut (1 Green chillies (2) Grams (50 g) Coriander (2-3 sprigs) Mustard seeds (Vi tsp) Salt (to taste) Fry mustard seeds in a little oil. Drain oil. Blend the remaining ingredients in a mixer. When serving sprinkle mus ­ tard seeds. grated) Children’s Parties Contact Ladies Lunches Social Gatherings c o T A i~i in A iu T RESTAURANT at Celebrate at Caravan 65, Murzban Road, Fort, Mumbai-400 001. Tel: 2072492-2077513 Fax: (91 22) 2076310 yl very central, convenient location PANEER — CHILLI DRY (to serve 2) Paneer or cottage cheese (100 g) Capsicum (I — finely chopped) Green chillies (2-3 — finely chopped). Garlic (Vi tsp — finely chopped) Ginger (Vi tsp — finely chopped) Soya sauce (2 tsp) Vinegar (Vi tsp) Cornflour (25 g) Salt and pepper (a pinch of each) Oil (to fry) Cut cottage cheese or paneer into cubes and fry till golden brown. Remove from fire. Saute capsicum and green chillies with garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Add soya sauce and vinegar. Make a paste of cornflour mixed with water and pour it over the mixture to give it a thick base. Add the fried paneer. Garnish with coriander. 44 Parsiana September 1999BUSIN ESS Dinshaw’s delicacies After the success of their heart-shaped ice cream Heartbeat, Dinshaw ’.s Dairy Foods Private Limited has introduced an ice cream sandwich named Sumo. Competitively priced at Rs 16 for 80 ml. Sumo consists of aslab of chocolate and vanilla ice cream dipped in choco ­ late sauce garnished with nuts and sand ­ wiched between chocolate biscuits. Saic.s have crossed two lakh units per month, within two months of introduction, ac ­ cording to a press release, and the com ­ pany plans to introduce a serie.s of inno­ vative products. Dinshaw ’.s now has a capacity of 40,()()() litres per day and i.s one of the by 20 percent in the coming financial biggest ice cream manufacturing units in the country. It has recently installed India ’s first ice cream extrusion plant imported from Italy which called for an investment of over five crore rupees. Managing director Jimmy Rana, the founder ’.s nephew, explains: “Conven­ tionally made ice cream cannot be given fancy shape.s and also tends to be crys ­ in .... tai I i lie s 1 ruclLire . fhe stale of >» ihcarlextru- [ sion lech- V iiology en­ ables U.S to j OH and m a 1111 fact u re smooth creamy ice cream ’WF in any desired form and shape... wc are trying out dif ­ ferent shapes and combination.s of lla- vor.s to add extra appeal to our ice creams and get an edge over competition. ” It wa.s in the 192()s that the founder Dinshaw Rana invested his life ’s savings into the purchase of three buffaloc.s in the then small town of Nagpur (see “The delights from Dinshaw ’s, ” Parsiaiia, September ’88). Dinshaw ’s started mak ­ ing ice cream in wooden molds in 1933, but the ice cream busincs.s wa.s limited to only three months of the summer! Rana took charge in 1981 and has over the past 18 years steadily expanded its 46 Parsiana September 1999 capacity and I marketing net- I work. The com- g pany owns 14 I cold storages I acros.s Maha- I rashlra, Madh- ¦ ya Pradesh. I Andhra Pradesh | and states theircom- pany profile. Dinshaw ’saim.s to increase il.s current turnover of R.S 50 crore.s Oris.sa , >i\ year and caplin e a 1.3 percent share in the R.S 450 crore ice cream market. Deserted interior of Cafe Naaz. Photo: Hilla Guzder restaurant in the world. The Irani part ­ ners, who ran it, tried, they were honest and friendly, and the staff worked hard, running up and down the three terraces with steaming kebabs and large plate.s of aromatic pulaos... And they served Parsi food, one of the few restaurants in the city that continued to serve it, when everybody else had packed up. They also served some Iranian food and were particularly proud of it,” he stated. A petition filed by Cafe Naaz seeking to restrain the BMC from repossessin the land was rejected by the Bombay High Court. “The BMC can build its grand pump room... an engineer look ­ ing from a meter to the beauty of Queen ’ s Necklace isn ’t going to deliver belter quality water or more of it,” noted columnist Anil Dharker in Mid-Day on July 28, lamenting the demise of one of the city’s romantic landmarks. Naaz no more It wa.s one of Bombay ’s serene spots. Situated on the crown of Malabar Hill, Cafe Naaz provided from it.s three levefs a commanding view of the blue of the bay, the gold of Chowpalty beach and the green of the trees on the hillside that had survived the onslaught of the skyscrapers. But on July 23, ’99, officialsof the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) accom ­ panied by a police party entered the pre ­ mises of Cafe Naaz, tossed out on to the street the Cafc ’.s tables, chairs, utensils, trunks, etc and closed down the res­ taurant. Civic officials plan to coll ­ ie struct a waler reservoir control room » on the municipal land which had been F leased to Cafe Naaz almost five de ­ cades ago, according to newspaper sources. Litigation between the par- lies ha.s been going on from 1977. For years the restaurant had been a favorite spot for cooing couples, Equity online backpackers flipping through the pages of their Lonely Planet, cclebritie.s and camera crews of Bollywood shoot ­ ing their films there, a,s well as the common man enjoying hi.s falooda or landoorcd meals, watching life go by on the slrcct.s below. “In recent month.s every morning down these green slopes would come a waiter from Naaz carry ­ ing a large keltic of lea. He would proceed to the Nana-Nani Park on the beach and serve the tea to the oldies taking their walk.s there. That was Naaz ’.s contribution to the city,” wrote Busybee popular, stated Dayal. in ihc Afternoon Despatch and Courier of July 29, ’99. “It was not the greatest ‘g Pheroza Billimoria, former marketing director. Business India, and Ajit Dayal, a pioneer in equity research and invest ­ ment management in India, have launched their website, www. cquitymaster.com three months ago, in­ forms the Afternoon Despatch and Cou­ rier of August 5, ’99. The website con­ tains comprehensive information about Indian stock markets as well as financial data of over 500 leading Indian compa ­ nies. The website includes a portfolio tracker which has proved to be very Compiled by Hilla P. Guzder'FHE CASE FOR... ctiiiliiiited from pa^e 34 just a small write-up in the Jom-e- .lomshecl Weekly (m one preceding Sun ­ day. More than one percent of Bombay ’s __l up occa- total Zoroastrian population turned in a show of solidarity. On that sion, lor the first time ever, a tour of the entire estate was very revealing. The linal result can be seen today, less than three years later. The renovation of bunglis. the forestation program, the plans to increase the vulture popula ­ tion, the anxiety to be rid of cncroachers and other such issues once swept under the carpet now receive alien- lion. Compared to that, the apathy of do ­ nors and elcclcd AC members to the election ol BPP iruslec.s under the present system stands out starkly, to say the least. Every up-coming election is publicized formonlhs, with variouscan- tlidatcs sending out their manifestos, gelling coverage and giving out adver ­ tisements in the Gujarati Press. This has attracted at best indifference from the lank and file members of the commu ­ nity who are helples.s bystanders in this drama that unfolds a minimum seven liine.s in a.s many years. The BPP trust- ccs, though highly respected individu ­ ally by the rank and file of the commu ­ nity, are collectively the favorite whip ­ ping boys due to the remotenes.s of A Zoroastrian who is not a voter is eligible to contest the election as a trustee! these donors ’ r< large group of beneficiaries, the mon Zoroastrians. In knowledgeable circles, Nani Pal- khivala ’s statement to the effect that India owes the majority of her ills to UAF is being merrily touted to ensure that UAF doesn ’t get a fair chance now, nor in the near or even distant future. The quality ol trustee.s thus elected will deteriorate, they insist. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The stale ha.s its political parties, the leaders of which select their candidates who arc more loyal than competent, whereas in the case of the BPP there arc no demi-gods deciding the community ’s 1 cpiescnlativcs from the guecl that if the donors ’ special ri<^hl and com- destiny. Individual members offering themselves for election will be elected each time on the strength of their indi ­ vidual acceptability to the whole com­ munity, and not just the donors and the AC. It is not as though the donors wifi be deprived of their votes, as is sought to be made out, but that the whole commu ­ nity will also get the same right to vote. The constitutional right of the Privy Purses wa.s with one stroke of the pen abolished and kings were reduced to commoners. Certain quarters have ar- parity to elect the trustees of the BPP is taken away, then donation.s will dry up and the community will be the poorer. But it is a matter of common knowledge that the really large donations have come from generous people and not from those who donated only to pack the donors ’ register with their nominees in order to influence the result of the election in their or their nominee ’s fa ­ vor. Wc pray to the Almighty to grant generosity to the opponents of UAF so that they may gracefully accept at the turn of the century what should have been adopted at its beginning. With Best Compliments From I A WELL-WISHER P.-irsinna September 1999SPORTS MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited from educated, good-looking Zarathushtrian girls of respectable families, for two young Zarathushtrian boys of 28 and 27 years respectively. Both boys are professional and career minded graduates and are electrical engineers from Sydney. The elder boy is an electronic engineer and the younger one is a software engineer. Both are working in reputed organizations. Girls must be 21 to 28 years and willing to settle in Australia. The boys along with their parents will be visiting Mumbai in Dec 99/Jan 2000. Please send detailed information with a photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/22-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. Personal sale of Authentic Parsi garas, silver, gold and jari borders Contact: 2833078, 2873373 Ac. 4i (!*• GOOLKHUSH RESORT Bordi (Station Golvad) ‘Off Seabeach ’ AC-Deluxe Couple R.s 1,000/- extra person Rs 450/- Non-AC Couple R.s 800/- extra person R.s 350/- Inclusive all meal.s and I'rcc acces.s to swimming pool, once a day. Coiilact .3821494 Pager No. 9628238800 02.528 41 182-41336 A good delivery Hi.s perceptive eye sweeps a wide cricket canva.s — Iroiii the picturesque stadia at Guwahati in Assam to Dunedin in New Zealand, to the on-field triumphs and tragedies of the Indian team, to the off-field j machinations of selection committees, to the follies -1iWtbWl K « and foibles of spectators. By^SYBEE Hi.s comments are witty and accurate, but the hu ­ mor is never hurtful. Howzzat! is a compila ­ tion of 74 of the best of Busybee ’s columns on cricket which first ap ­ peared in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier from 1985 to 1999. The book, a special limited edition for World Cup ’99, i.s illustrated by Mario de Miranda and presented by S. Kumars. Priced at R.s 100, it was published by Oriana Books, Bombay and released in May ’99 on the eve ofthe World Cup. Cricket i.s “a game of English mead- ow.s and tea tents and county squires, played under mellow sunshine with the threat of a sudden shower hanging in the summery air, and yet it seems to be more at home in hot, sweaty stadia... So here i.s an English game... played in an east ­ ern country... promoted by soft drink and plastic card companie.s from an ex­ clusively baseball country like the U. S. of A. If you do not find that odd, it i.s because you are an Indian, ” writes the Afternoon Despatch and Cou­ rier editor Behram Contractor in hi.s foreword, as he hand.s over the ball to “my friend Busybee (Contractor ’s nom-de-plumc). Af ­ ter all, thi.s i.s bi.s book. ” Ensconced within its 120 pages are Busybee ’s familiar characters — the wife, the children Darryl and Derek, Bolshoi the Boxer, the friend on the 21.st floor. Nostalgia per ­ vades it.s pages. Busybcc remem ­ bers the first Test match he saw — West Indic.s versus India way back in the ’48- ’49 scric.s — from the concrete slabs of Shooting Championship at Bangalore Brabournc Stadium ’s East Stand, at a in the 50 meters, .22 rifle prone position lime when spectators threw seed.s and for veterans in January ’99, represent- orange peel on other spectators and not on lieldsmcn stationed on the bound ­ ary! Polly Umrigar made his debut in that Test, write.s Busybee: “He immedi- Special Mihon WwM Cup '99 48 Parsiana September !999 V >l atcly struck everybody as a fine all ­ rounder, modest, hard working, reli ­ able and the amazing part is that after much success and fame, he remained the nice, modest, gentleman cricketer. ” And Busybee recalls this h's column penned 40 in 1988! With T his shrewd grasp over men and matters, Busybee chronicle.s it all in tongue- in-cheek style — from spoilsport Kanpur specta ­ tors flashing little mirror.s reflecting the sunlight onto , visiting batsmen ’.s faces, ! temporarily blinding them V and engineering their dis- 5 missal, to Bishen Singh I Bedi ’s famous remark about wanting to dump the Indian team into the Pacific Ocean! Over the half century he ha.s been watching the game, writes Busybee, “it has undergone a world of change, ” with cricketers wearing football style jersey.s with their names on the back and um ­ pires carrying mobile communications. Somctime.s you do not know, he ob ­ serves, “whetheryou are watching World Cup Football or World Cup Cricket. ” The book wa.s released at Afternoon House by Raj Singh Dungarpur, presi ­ dent ofthe Board of Control for Cricket in India, amidst an assembly of celebri ­ ties including veteran cricketers. Diiniis of Calicut won his fourth gold medal at the 42nd National ing Kertda state. Marshall’.'; tally of medal.; includes four silvers. Compiled by Hilla P. GiizderHISTORY Treasured on the Island - 2 Warm heart and hearth The Parsis of Ceylon regularly enjoyed the hospitality of Framjee House After being shipwrecked in lhe turbu ­ lent waters of the Indian Ocean a hand ­ ful of Parsis landed in Ceylon in the early 17lh century. In the 18th century, some adventurous Parsi.s had sought to establish themselves on this beautiful island as planters and shopkeepers. By lhe I9lh century lhe community wa.s so well respected that on the formation of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in 18.39, Hormusjee Espandiarjee and Shapoorjie Hirji were the only two non­ English members invited thereon. At lhe beginning of the 20lh century Zoroastrians in Ceylon numbered less than a hundred, reaching their peak of over 350 prior to World War 11. Then followed the exodus and today around 60 Zoroastrians remain in Sri Lanka (see “The Zoroastrians of Serendip, ” I’tirtiidiKi, January 1999). Starling with the July-August issue, Pdrsiaiia is chronicling lhe achieve ­ ments of prominent Sri Lankan Zoroas- Irians of lhe 19th and the 20th century. These arc edited excerpts from Bchram Kaikhushroo Billimoria ’s historical compilation. The Parsecs in Ceylon, culled from the memoirs of Framrozc Ruslomjec and K. D. Choksy. Written about nine years ago, factually there may he a change of circumstance.s for some of the individuals mentioned herein although wc have imposed on Sri Lanka ’s respected legal light Kairshasp Choksy ’s lime to check the episode.s for accuracy. 'The first instalment detailed the suc ­ cess story of Dady Muncherji also known as Dady Parsi who was a merchant held in high esteem by lhe locals a.s also the they gathered there to celebrate lhe European.s who patronized his shops. Transport facilities too came within hi.s purview in the early 19th century and there are references to his establish ­ ment running the palanquin facilities for lire convenience of passengers. Tire coffee estate and exports of 49 Parsiana September '999 Cowasjee Eduljce Colombowalla earned him substantial wealth and he used a part of it to donate a burial ground for Parsis in Colombo, men ­ tions this second instalment. (This old burial ground in Kottanchina was in use prior to the present one on Jawatte Road, acquired for lhe community by Kaikhushroo Choksy who was ap- Pcslonjce Dinshawjcc Khan.) To Fram- jee Bhikhajee and Company goes the credit for making possible the influx of many Parsis from India. The Khan Clock Tower and lhe Crippled Children ’s Ward bear testimony to their largesse. Framjcc House was lhe venue for all Parsi festivities and it wa.s also custom ­ ary to have an "open house ” for all Parsis every Sunday, it i.s recounted. The rags to riches story of Ruslomjee Muncherjee who had assiduously toiled to build up his business empire and invariably presided over every meeting of the community is related in lhe third instalment. Among lhe leading profes ­ sionals of the 2()lh century were Homi Framrozc Billimoria who enjoyed the distinction of serving a.s the first Ceylo ­ nese (the previous incumbents being English) chief architect of the public works department of the government and Dr Ruslom Pestonjee who had served lhe King during World War 1 and relumed with distinctions in war service. Some of the imposing struc ­ tures erected by Billimoria are ihe Inde ­ pendence Hall, The Elphinslone and Majestic Theatres and Navroz Bang. A.s superintendent of the Leper Asylum in Hcndala, Pestonjee played host to lhe Parsi community every Christmas when occasion with the patienls. Anolhcr revered medical practitio ­ ner wa.s Dr Dadabhoy Peslonjee Banajee who had served the Maharaja of Morvi (except a few acres demarcated and before being appointed member of the depicted in lhe Petlah and the Foreshore Colombo Municipality, slates lhe fourth instalment. Even though the Maharaja followed Banajee to Ceylon to per ­ suade him to return, Banajec ’.s wife would not allow it for one of his duties wa.s to taste the food before it was served to the Maharaja which she felt could endanger his life. The legal fraternity ’s claim to fame was Nariman & pointed King’s Counsel and his son Kairshasp who officiates as President ’s Counsel. The Prayer Hall and priest ’s residence known as Navroz Baug were constructed by Meherbai who was keen to fulfil her husband Pallonjee Nowrojee Kapadia ’s drcam project. The Parasmani Hall which is in use by the Parsi Sports Club was the com­ bined effort of Framroze Rustomjee who donated the land and Ruttonshah Rustomjee who bore the cost of con­ struction, it is explained in the fifth instalment. As per Rultonshah ’s last will, every year lhe community i.s in­ vited to a dinner at the Navroz Baug on a date close to his death anniversary. The academician Kaikhushroo Billimo ­ ria, who as principal of the Dharmaraja College was responsible for building up the center of learning into a reputed institute, wa.s always happy to host Parsi visitors to Kandy a.s theirs was the only Zoroastrian family resident there. Many other outstanding Parsis have their roots in Ceylon. Professional, busi ­ ness and/or family commitments may have persuaded them to settle in other lands. But their accomplishments are fondly recalled in the final episode of this treatise on Sri Lankan Zoroastri ­ ans. In the early part of the 19th century there was an edict prohibiting the pur ­ chase of lands in all parts of Colombo Street of Colombo) as well as estates in the interior of Ceylon. As the Parsis hadpurchased land in Colombo and estates in the interior they moved the govern ­ ment to revoke this edict which was later done and people were at liberty to pur ­ chase properties in all parts of the island. The main purpose of this edict wa.s to leave most of the lands to be purchased by people and officers in charge of the government of this country. Many of the Parsis who later came over to trade in Ceylon had purchascti extensive land.s and estates in Ceylon. | The Persians were I among the foremost I faces of the world I noted for plantations I and fruit cultivation. I The Parsis who ¦ settled permanently in Ceylon proved them- ’ selve.s to be thrifty, h hardworking and per- 11 severing. They were of • a benevolent turn of J mind and heart towards i| their friends, neighbors and business acquain ­ tances. In business they had been consistently honest, faithful and punctual in dis ­ charging theirfinancial obligations with strict integrity. This inborn trait of the Parsis at all times helped them to estab ­ lish worldwide connections on the basis of long-term credit facilities as well to import stocks of goods on commis ­ sion basis, without the importer having to pay the value for the good.s on arrival. The Parsi merchants who became es ­ tablished in their regular business ac ­ tivities helped the other Parsis from India to start a trade suitable to theirs in all parts of the island. The result of such spontaneou.s and brotherly fceling.s shown by the Parsis in Colombo to­ wards their brethren in India was gener ­ ously demonstrated to all the Parsis who crossed over to Ceylon for busi ­ nes.s with little or no capital. The traders among the Parsi.s who imported large stock.s of commodities for the indigenou.s population of Ceylon had merely to order their large require ­ ments from Indian traders and the latter readily sent the stock of goods on credit, requiring the local Parsi traders to sign and return to them hunches (promissory notes) equivalent in value to the goods ordered. All such hunches were most scrupulously honored by the Parsi trad ­ ers by payment of their dues at the banks without demur. Thus there was Graves at the Jawatte Burial Grounds as 50 Parsiana September 1999 built up a fair volume of friendly trade between the two countrie.s of Ceylon and India, the like of which the genera ­ tions yet unborn will never come to know. That prosperity which the island had enjoyed for years unmitigatedly ha.s now disappeared. There is a reference in the Parsee Prakash that one Dhunjishah Ruttonji Nowrojee Pallonjee Kapadia were their Captain came to Bombay in 1800 and worked under his brother Jamshedji. Cowasjec Eduljee came to Ceylon in 1828 when he was 18 years of age. By 1846 when his father-in-law died they had built up a lucrative business in Fourth Cross Street. Cowasjee Eduljee ’s brother-in-law Behramjee Shapurjee Aycrton (also known as Owenna since he had worked for a Mr Owen) and »s assistants. His business was the export of Ceylon products to India and Eu- i|rfnMn|||V rope; he also exported coffee in a very big way. When he retired he sold his business to his two assistants. Ayerton left for Bombay and estab ­ lished himself in busi ­ ness there but Kapadia carried on his busines.s in Fourth Cross Street under the firm and style of Nowrojee Pallonjee and Company. Between the years 1853 and 1868 Cowasjee Eduljee purchased vari ­ ous bits of land which he incorporated into a cof ­ fee estate called “Wewwssa and De- bedde ” Estate in extent 815 acres. On his death on January 5, 1887 at the age of 75 years, he left a last will leaving all his assets to his widow Avabai. She later sold the estate for a sum of Rs 200,000 in or about 1889. The Parsee Prakash further indi ­ cates under the date 1861 that Cowasjee The Prakash goes on to say that in 1805 Jamshedji ’.s ship on its voyage from Colombo to Bombay was captured by the French but he was released near Cape Comorin. Dhunjishah Captain set up his own business in Bombay and called his brothers to join him and in 1812 he and his brothers spread out to Eduljee Colombowalla (as he thereaf- the Malabar Coast and to Colombo. Unfortunately there docs not appear to be any record of this family locally. One of the most prominent among Parsi traders was Cowasjee Eduljee. He Anjuman. This portion of the burial was a public-spirited and inlluential ground was sold in 1967. Parsi in his days. He owned a coffee estate. He lived in Blocmendhal Road, Kotahena in Colombo and he made a trust of his extensive property in Kotahena for the benefit of the Parsi.s in Colombo, setting aside a portion of the Bhikhajee and Company and had its said property a.s a burial ground for the shop in the Pettah of Colombo. This Parsis. A portion of that property was sold by the trustees of the Burial Ground Trust and the money realized therefrom lorm.s the nucleus of the present Co­ lombo Parsi Burial Ground Trust. Under the date 1860 the Parsee Prakash notes, Cowasjee Eduljee, Colombowalla had a new ship built in Cochin and named it Shapurji Hirji after his father-in-law. ter called himself) built a wall round the Parsi burial ground in Colombo. This is the old burial ground in Kottanchina which he had earlier donated to the The pioneer firm which established large business connections for Ceylon among the Parsis was the firm that came into existence in Colombo in the year 1844. It became known as Framjee followed the arrival of two brothers Framjee Bhikhajee Khan and Dinshah- jee Bhikhajee Khan who commenced business under that name and later be ­ came well-known and highly respected both among the Parsis and among the business fraternity in Ceylon. They were financiers, importers and exporters on a very large and unprecedented scale of all consumer goods and textiles. BeingI if large financiers they were known to every business firm in Colombo and also in other parts of Ceylon. All traders and large business institutions trusted the honesty of this firm. Most of the Pellah petty traders deposited their cash capital with this firm earning interest on the capital left in deposit. They were also empowered to draw on their capital at any time without prior notice whatsoever. This firm was largely re- . sponsible for the inllux of many Parsis from India who came over and joined the firm at j||Hg the outset, some of whom later com- mcnced their own in- dependent business through the assistance of this pioneer firm. Framjee Bhikhajee Khan died in Bombay on January 4, 1878 aged 53 and Dinshahjee Khan died in Bombay on July 7, 1887 aged 67 years. The descendants of the Khan family that thereafter ran their lucrative busi ­ ness in Colombo were Bhikhajee Framjee Khan, Munchershaw Framjee Khan (sons of Framjee Bhikhajee) and Pestonjee Dinshahjee Khan (son of Dinshahjee Bhikhajee). They loo were astute businessmen and commanded considerable trust among member.s of all communities in Ceylon. They were appointed members of the Municipal Council of Colombo. Her Majesty ’s Government conferred on them honor ­ ary ranks. Bhikhajee joined the business at a very early age after his father ’s death and by his perseverance, hard work, preciseness and a keen sense of justice, along with great industry and enter ­ prise, built up with his partners the oldest and perhaps the best known In­ dian firm of merchants with a tremen ­ dous stake in Ceylon. He was the joint owner and founder of that well-known concern at Grandpass known a.s the Colombo Oil Milks which stood on an extensive piece of land of over 14 acres. They imported much machinery for extending the scope of this mill for the making and exporting of a large volume of coconut oil to different parts of the world. They did a roaring trade in the purchase of copra and the export of SB 51 Parsiana September 1999 coconut oil. They exported every type butions to the welfare of the city of of indigenous produce such as tea, coffee, cocoa, cinnamon, cardamoms and arpea nut and amassed consider ­ able wealth and owned many proper ­ ties in Colombo. In 1890 they be ­ came member.s of the Ceylon Cham ­ ber of Commerce. H [d Caretaker’s bungalaw at Jawatte ’k* - ' ¦ Colombo. The Khan Clock Tower in the Main Street at Pettah and the Crippled Children ’s Ward in Ward Place in the Cinnamon Gardens of Colombo have been erected in their memory. Mention must also be made of the awards to the University of Colombo, namely the M. F. Khan Prize for Arts, M. F. Khan Gold Medal for Educa ­ tion and the Bhikhajee Khan Gold Medal for Chemistry. It would also be ap ­ propriate at this point of time to state that the resi ­ dence in which the care ­ taker at Jawatte Burial Ground,s lives was do ­ nated to the Ceylon Parsi Anjuman in memory of _ _ Dinshahjee and Framjee Bhikhajee Khan by their son.s on October 2, 1905. On May 10, 1906. Fram-jee Bhikhajee and Company donated to the Parsi Anjuman the carriage, gehan (bier) and the building at Jawatte which houses them. Pcstonjee Dinshahjee Khan, who in Ceylon was accepted by the Parsi com­ munity a.s one of the most trusted mem ­ bers thereof, was during the latter pe­ riod of the 19lh century appointed sole trustee of the Ceylon Parsi Anjuman Burial Ground Fund which was the only Fund in existence at that time. Khan who was a most influential and popular figure among the people of this coun ­ try, very thoughtfully acquired for the Parsis of Ceylon a permanent burial ground at Jawatte Road in Colombo in extent over two acres both for the burial of the dead of the Parsis and for all their religiou.s purposes. The said land was conveyed by the Crown in the year 1885 to Pestonjee Dinshahjee Khan and his successors, the trustees of the said They lived in their magnificent bun ­ galow called “Framjee House, ’’ a land ­ mark al the junction of Calle Road and Station Road, Colpelly. This vast bun ­ galow and its extensive grounds which extended from Calle Road to the sea face wa.s the venue for all functions of the Parsi community. Il wa.s the venue for the annual Pateti festivities includ ­ ing sports and dinner. It was also always an “open house ’’ to all Parsis every Sunday. All Parsi transit passengers were met on board the ship by a clerk who brought them ashore for a meal and a short stopover. Il is now a part of Methodist College and the large garden has been converted into office build ­ ings called Nadarajah Building and other residential bungalows. Framjee Bhikhajee and Company owned an extensive shopping center al the corner of Main Street and China Lane in the Pellah of Colombo. They Trust; the same has ever since been were the sole agents for a number of foreign firms. One of their activities was the import of foreign liquor. They purposes for which it was acquired, were till 1939 the sole importers of the well-known French brandy known as “Beehive Brandy ’’ which used to be sold at Rs 2.50 a bottle in 1904. The firm also traded in precious and semi ­ precious stones and sometimes even imported toys. They were philanthropists at heart Pestonjee Dinshahjee Khan, and his and made large and munificent contri- used by the trustees of the same Fund as their sole and absolute property for the Pestonjee Khan died in 1920. It was unfortunate that P. D. Khan ’s death was followed by that of Muncher- shaw Khan in 1921 and Bhikhajee Framjee Khan in 1922. The only male members of the Khan family then left were Framji Pestonjee Khan, son of cousin who was then only nine years ofREADERS’ FORUM continued from page 6 from December 31, 1999 to January 16, Pcstonjee Khan then became duty bound to take over the onerous task of looking after the firm of Framjee Bhikhajee and Company which he continued to do till his 2000 will commence with a jashan, an death. In this he was ably assisted by K. D. Choksy who had been long associated with their business. All their activities were very ably man ­ aged by their honest and hard-working assistants. Their business was latterly run most profitably through the keen business acumen of their local attorney and general manager K. D. Choksy, who, for many years during his service in the firm, wa.s their most trusted agent. The firm had in the early stages the assistance of a group of Parsis who came overtromIndia,torjobsattheMills,with Royal Bengal Tigers; a campfire their families. They were all accommo ­ dated at the bungalows on Grandpass Road, in close proximity to the Mills. The firm continued for many year.s but after the end of World War II, business became slack and the policy of the government in Ceylonizing busi ­ nesses compelled Framji ’s son Pesy to wind up their business which had ex­ isted for over 100 years. This wa.s really the end of an era. To he continued opening ceremony, followed by a New Year ’s Eve dinner-dance. Other planned events include: a day at the Race Course on January 1 at the local equivalent of the Ascot races where you can rub shoulders with Calcutta ’s Who ’s Who, the bold and the beautiful and the (-I ~ everyone, regardless of age, can par ­ ticipate; other sporting games and com ­ petitions. For those keen on wildlife and adventure, there could be an over ­ night trip to the Sunderbans to see the ing of the Master Christ. Some others... the Kaiki Avatar, Jehova, the Mahdi. Each faith shall recognize him as its very own. Thus have their psyches been molded over the ages with the folklore of each faith. Each eagerly awaits that great event, before the onset of which are variously prophesied... the upheav ­ als, the deluge, the cataclysms... Arma ­ geddon, the scenes of the last battle between the powers of good and evil. gliltciati, a Pagal Gymkhana in which People in each century have awaited it at the turn of the new. And, we still wait. That the New Age of Aquarius, the water bearer of the Zodiac, is dawning is an accepted fact. Its signs around the globe are apparent — the age of intu ­ ition, fluidic, has dawned and, although the Piscean Age, the age of intellect whose brilliance man has hitherto wit­ nessed, is not yet over, it is gradually giving way to the intuitive era. Men of science and technology therefore will more readily grasp intuitively the truth,s in nature and shall now be able to solve the riddles that had stalled and ham ­ pered their researches earlier. They will discern solutions more readily, making faster advances in technology. Man ­ kind shall benefit tremendously through new remedies and better rates of cures of disease.s that have plagued them. Await not the advent with folded arms but be steeped in work in the right direction. Meditation can be of tremen ­ dous benefit. Individual meditation for progress of the self into the over-self, group meditation for the upliftment of the masses, for peace on earth through love-consciousness. These shall usher in the New Age and get us ready for the great event prophesied, noshir b. mana Karachi. Paki.staii evening and dinner and, of course, the Club ’s most popular event, the annual Children ’s Fancy Dress Contest, com­ bined with the Seventh Annual Grand Parsec Bazaar to showcase the com­ munity ’s talents in crafts and gourmet ’s delights — like only Parsis can prepare! All these to bring back memories of “those were the days, my friend... ” We have extended the celebrations over 17 days and three weekends so that we arc able to accommodate as many of our visitors as possible. Even if you spend seven day.s with us, you will be able to attend three or four functions and meet most of your friends. Sounds exciting, interesting; fun'.' Why not join in — all of you out there, somewhere, who have been earlier in Calcutta, be it for a day or for years'? We remember you and miss you. No other single event will offer the unique op­ portunity to meet so many friends who you may not have met for 20, 30 or even 40 years. Those of you who wish to come. ¦o' Adarian ’.s IOOth anniversary, the trust ­ ec.s were able to raise R.s 3,36,050 a.s donations, stated a press release. To preserve the assets of the Anjuman whilst honoring the legacy that i.s in their keeping is their main endeavor. BENEDICTIONS FOR BILIMORA continued from page 29 out of their doorways decorated with chalk and torans, and headed for the newly built fire-temple. A congrega ­ tion ol nearly 1,500 Zoroastrians from Bilimora, Navsari, Surat, Valsad and Bombay were present on the occasion and enjoyed the lunch and dinner hosted by the founders. At the centenary function too com ­ munity feasting constituted the finale of the celebrations. Among the other activities organized by the energetic please get in touch immediately with trustee.s of the Anjuman on a regular basis are get-togethers on Jamshedi Navroz and Khordadsal. In addition, monthly stipends, medical help, schol ­ arships and foodgrain are distributed throughout the year. Tata Baug, Rustom Bang, chawls, doongerwadi and a vast tract of open land are some of the other properties managed by the Anjuman which was established in 1837 and reg ­ istered in the year 1938. For the Gabba The SCCOlld COlllillg The advent ol Behram Shah Verzavan Saheb i.s heralded at the end of this or the beginning of the next century. Zoro ­ astrians gird your loins. Movements arc afoot to usher in the new era. Some have called it the second com- Bahadur S. Postwalla, OH tel: 91-33- IVIarrV ¥011112 2471875/2479410, Re.s tel: 91-33- - 4767339/4767284, Off fax: 91-33- 2477832, e-mail: posty@vsnl.com or ratanpostwalla@hotmail.com or Zarin D. Rustomji, Res tel: 91-33-2810125, OH tax: 91-33-2881616, e-mail: zdr@ Lisiscal.ernet.in burjor f. modi Piesidcni. CalciiHa Parsee Club Your magazine clearly supports intercaste marriages and avoidance of old tarikats. The need of the day is to educate all to marry within the community. I have solid proof that our religion does not permit intercaste marriages. We should impress on our youngsters to marry young and have at least three children instead of cre ­ ating confusion among the members that the community is getter smaller in numbers. ROHINTON P. JAMBUSARWALA Bliaiucb Ediled by Paiinaz M. Gandhi 52 Parsiana September 1999BOOKS The pulse of philanthropy Hutokhshi Cooper Give Me A Bombay Merchant—Anytime! The LifeofSirJamsetjeeJejeebhoy, Bt. 1783-1859 by B. K. Karanjia. Published in 1998 by the University of Mumbai, Mumbai 400032. Pp: iv + 84. Price: Rs 95. GIVE ME A BOMBAY MEBCHANT- ANYTIMEl s<! J«-)FPhh«n 3«- The slim volume penned by Burjor K. Karanjia is as rev ­ erential a biography of Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy as any, perhaps more so because it has been brought out to mark the 150 years of functioning of the Sir Jamsetjee Je­ jeebhoy Parsee Benevolent Institution. Also, Karanjiamusthave considered his impression ­ able audience — his version of Jejee ­ bhoy ’s rags to riches to philanthropy story is aimed at students. For them, as Dr Snehalata S. Deshmukh, vice chan ­ cellor of the University of Mumbai, says in her foreword, Jejeebhoy must be a role model worthy of emulation. So Karanjia takes pains to convey his deep admiration of Jejeebhoy and advises his young readers at every turn to learn from Jejeebhoy ’s life. To that end the format of the book reads like a conven­ tional text book with a context, the main body and recapitulating of major characteristics in each chapter. Jejccbhoy ’.s rise to great business success and wealth is chronicled in detail . The opium trade, the author notes, was the source of his wealth. Opium dealing in that era was legitimate and countless individuals, companies and nations made their fortunes in this trade. Missing from lhe book is Karanjia ’s • critique of the ill effects of drugs. While Karanjia states the facts of Jcjcebhoy ’.s business, he docs not emphasize to the studenLs its negative impact on people. We also get an insight into the evo­ lution of his charitable impulse. Jejeebhoy started by giving alin.s to lhe poor — from bags of money he carried Jejeebhoy with son Ciirsetjee Illustration: B. K. Chavan 53 Parsiana September 1999 in his horse carriage every evening. He the improvement and development of lived according to the rules of the time and contributed hi.s money and servicc.s to a society sorely in need. Slowly also, he started consolidating hi.s position through public activities. He was one of the first In­ dian jurors, a justice of the peace, and an honorary president of the Bombay Association, an organiza ­ tion that brought the griev ­ ances of Indians before the ruling British. r*" ¦ ¦ On lhe Zoroastrian com ­ munity front he wa.s a trustee, albeit a critical one, of the Parsi Punchayet for 35 years. Perhap.s the generous donations he made to build agiaries inspired future indus ­ trialists to do the same for lhe commu ­ nity in the years to come. He may be among the first Indian fund-raisers. He raised money and con­ tributed to activities promoting the civil rights of Indians. Gradually, he turned his attention to 't 3/ the infrastructure of the city and sur ­ rounding towns. The Mahim Cause ­ way, named after his wife who pro ­ moted the project, was a major one. It was preceded and followed by many others. He also supported many causes, both communal and non-communal, and con­ tributed to relief efforts for people who were the victims of natural calamities. He also endowed educational institu ­ tions and hospitals. Most of these insti ­ tutions are in existence more than 100 years later. What strikes me is that he was a man who liked a good time for all — hi.s friends, the poor and even animals. He gave parties for all of them! The character of Jejeebhoy was in no small measure molded by the positive reinforcement he received as a child from his parents. His family ’s relative poverty was never viewed as an impedi ­ ment. Jejeebhoy carried with him this internalized view, rising from each of the calamities life visited upon him without much psychological damage. Unafraid of failure, he tried again and again until he made good. When hi.s fortunes lessened, he continued giving without fear. Organized charity as we know it in India seems to have at least one root, if not more, in the ideas and institutions initiated by Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy. By institutionalizing his charities, he per ­ petuated them. Jejeebhoy ’s charities are enumer ­ ated at the end of the book. Karanjia ’,s concise biography should be valuable .»• both to the younger readers, at whom it i.s obviously aimed, and to adults who wish to have a quick but inspirational overview of the life of this great Indian and great Zarathushti. Overall, the book would serve as a starting point for discussions on the man and what he stood for in hi.s time, as also the challenges facing every indi ­ vidual who dreams of acquiring wealth and doing charity.MILESTONES ‘g The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 20 and 22 years, the arithmetic mean — the total number of individual ages di ­ vided by the total number of bride.s — being 21 years. The corresponding figure.s for the grooms were 23 and 30 years, averaging at 26 years. A.s per the data collected by Parsiana, there were 67 deaths in Bombay in July 1999 a.s com­ pared to only four Zoroastrian births. Eleven victims were above the age of 80 of the 29 who fell prey to heart disease. The other killer.s were cancer and pneumonia/lung disease (seven each), septicemia (three) and hypothyroidism (a group of symptom.s caused by a defi ­ ciency of thyroid secretion), hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body), general debility/ BARODA MARRIED Maha frill Vesiina, daughter of Yasmin and Hector, and Neville .laiiihiixarwalla, son of Arnavaz and Hoshang on January 28, 1999 DIED Riistniiiji Horinusji Patel (84), husband of Khorshedbanoo and lather of Rohinton, Aban and Nozer; May 14 BOMBAY BORN A girl, Parendi, to Firanghish and Jehangir Gai'. April 28 A boy to Maharokh and Pauritsasp Magob, July 5 A boy to Prochi and Dara Flavicr, July 23 A boy to Ajiab and Kerman Damania', July 27 A girl to Shaheen and Hormuz Irani', July 29 MARRIED Delnaz. Behram Contractor and Arzan Minoo Pilhawalla', July 11 Sharmin .langoo Printer of Aurangabad and Firdo.'i Keki Irani of Poona; July 2.5 Mahkhurshid Kersi Kular and Hushang Merwan Maz.ilayasncr, July 30 54 Parsiana September 1999 old age, diabetes, brain disease, anemia and bronchitis (two each). Urinary tract infection, intestinal obstruction, hacmatc- mesis (vomiting of blood), burns, gastro-cntcritis, head in­ jury, kidney failure and hyper ­ tension were the isolated easc.s registered in July. The youngest to breathe hi.s last wa.s a 30- year-old male a.s compared to the eldest: a 96-year-old female. The Zoroastrian life cxpecttuicy al birth for July, in Bombay, wa.s 76 years. The data on birth.s, mar ­ riages and death.s ha.s been com ­ piled from information supplied by variou.s ncwsletter.s and anju- miins in 1 ndia and abroad, conrt.s and hospitals. This information is not alway.s complete or con­ sistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anju- man.s do not furnish the par- DIED Kliaished Faraiiiraze Baelia (61), residing al 35, Jame Jamshed Bldg, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 4()()()I4; June 30 Behraiii Pestoiiji Sahiar (81), 4/1 1, Tata Clny, Tardco, 400034;June 30 Dolly Phimz.e Dariiwalla (66), 14/6, Tata Clny, Ratan Tata Marg, Tardeo, 400034; July 1 Eriichsliaw Riisloiiiji Kalila ni), 15/A-2, New Kharcghat Clny, Babulnath Rd, 40()()()7; July 1 Byram Bomaiisha Noble (45), Noble Bldg, 151, Nanubhai Desai Rd, Khetwadi, 400004; July 1 Din.'ihaw Kershasp Siiior (49), 724, P. C. A. Co-op Hsg Soc Bldg, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; July 1 Barjor Byramshaw Taraporewalla (Tarapore) 82-A, Empire Est, 147, August Kranti Mare, 400036; July 1 Dara Dinsliaw Vania (89), 86, Sunita, Opp Colaba Post Office, S. B. Rd, 4()()0()5; July 1 Roslian Kaikliiisliroo Kotwal Ub), 682-A, Kapadia Bldg. Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar? 400014; July 2 Fakirji Shavakslia Bhan.'iali ticLilars; the birth figure,s for Bombay are supplied by four hospitals — birth.s in suburban hospitals and private nursing home.s arc not included unless individuals send u.s informa ­ tion together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when Clny, Vikhroli, 400079; July 9 a civil marriage precedes a rc- ligioLi.s ceremony. In the breakup of death.s according to illnesses, especially of the eld ­ erly, death is often due to a combination of several dis ­ eases. If reader.s have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. Wc are sure our readers would appreciate Bldg, 15, Low Level South this requirement and cooperate with us. ceremony. (92), 6/4, Panthaki Baug, H. S. Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; July 3 Banoo Fall Billimoria (79), Room no 21, 133, Petit Widows ’ Chawl, Mody St, Fort, 400001; July 3 Mani Hornnisji Daniania (62), 678, Laxmi Villa, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; July 3 Aloo Savak Talavia (85), 668, Desai Bldg, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; July 3 Fdidji Hortnnsji Baria (11), A/38, Bharat Ngr, Grant Rd, 400007; July 4^ Freny Pessy Contractor (83), C-15, Neel Shanti Niketan Co-op Hsg Soc, Vidyanagari Marg, Kalina, 400098; July 4 Hilla Peshotan Diikandar (91), 19, Dawoodi Mans, Shankerseth Rd, 400007; July 4 Teinnina Kersasp Dda (88), 14, Tarachand Block, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; July 4 Minoo Bhikaji Tarapore (68), 3/46, Bapai Mans, Dr N. N. Shah Lane, Chira Bazar, 400002; July 4 Baji Pirojsha Mehta (75), 613, Dinshaw Bldg, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; July 5 Pnilan Nariman Dallas (88), B/14, Nes.s Baug, Nana Chowk, 400007; July 7 Nawaz. Biirjorji Mistry Umrigar Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; July 7 Tehmina Behramji Panthaki (94), C/o Keki B. Panthaki, K/4, Cama Park, Andheri (W), 400058; July 8 Periii Beliram Vandrewala (68), D38/3, Godrej Hill Side Keki Ardeshir Gilder (79), Gilder Villa, 17, Perry Cross Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; July 10 Solirab Rustomji Pavri (19), T/8, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; July 10 Goolcher Cnrsetji Surti (92), Dastoor Bglw, Naigaum Cross Rd, Dadar, 400014; July 10 Aloo Ratanshaw Marolia (78), Salamat Mans, Old Roda Frcre Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; July 11 Mani Beliram Gazdar (65), I, Daruwalla Bldg, South Frere Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; July 12 Manijeh Sorabji Italia (82), A/10, Godrej Baug, Off Napean Sea Rd, 400036; July 12 Erach Pestonji Deboo (74), 13/12, Lentin Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 13 Tehmi Sorabji Kakalia (83), Yusuf Mans, 204, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; July 13 Feroze Hormusji Maliernosh (79), 15, Calcuttawala Bldg, 124, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parel, 400012; July 14 Banoohed Hormusji Patel (85), Malegamwala Bldg no 1, Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; July 14 Cawas Nusserwanji Siodia (80), C-13/9, Rituraj Bldg, ' Lie Clny, Borivli (W), 400103; July 14 Coomie Manek Engineer (86), Vande Mataram, 10th Rd, Chembur, 400071; July 16 Framroz Dinshawji Boga (73), 5, Sai Shakti, Shastri Ngr, Old Dombivli Rd, Dombivli (W), Dist Thana, 421203; July 17 Perviz Godrej Jadashapur (64), 3, Narielwala Bldg, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; July 17 Roda DIuin Dhanjibhoy (82), Chellaram Hse, Carmichael Rd, 400026; July 18Croal Riislatti Tata (94), 604/B, Laxmi Sadan, Dr B. Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; July IS Hatiti Ardeshar Wattkadia (22). C-19, Pushpakunj Co-op Hsg Soc, Santacruz (W), 4O(5o 55; July IS daal Minot) Fitter (S.5), A-,32, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byctilhu 400027; July 19 Dhanjishaw Biirjorji KerawaHa (65), Aziz Bldg, Tardeo Rd, Tardeo, 400034; July 19 Mebrwan Nowroji Meitta {S2), Firuz-Ara, 160, M. Karve Rd, 400021; July 19 Coftma Pes'tonji (Pe.si) Unmilla (7S), Meherbal Wadia Bldg, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; July 19 Panoohai Piroxita Divecha (96), 6, Contractor Bldg, Sussex Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 20 Tehiitina .lehangir Ettgineer (S9), 7, Jehangir Baug, Juhu Rd, 400049; July 20 Cootni Maneck Vaid (75), C/o Beji F. Doctor, Maskati Corner, 37, Allamount Rd, 400026; July 20 Cool Adi Midlii (73), Gowalia Tank Bldg, 46A, August Kranti Marg, 400036; July 2l Najoo Somb Toddiwalla (S3), 14, Jamas Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, Off Turner Rd, Bandra (W), 4000.50; July 21 Piimiidoktb Jehcm^ir Imni (b'b). Durlab Bhavan, Jalbhai St, Charni Rd Jn, 4()()()()4; July 12 Fredy /{oslidiiit Mercbdnl (30), A-2, Rosary Hse, 2nd Gunpowder Lane, Mazgaon, 400010; July 22 Ndriiiiciii Dliiinii'''b(i Sediiia 141, Scalord B. 17, Cufle Parade, 400005; July 22 Pesloiiji Nariman Contradar (25), 10, Rubans Apts, Setal- wad Lane, Off 30, Napcan Sea Rd, 4()()()()6; July 2.5 Najaa Dinxliaw Fade (S4), 6IS, Jami Lodge, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi CIny, Dadar, 400014; July 26 Kborsbed Nawraji Mebla (SI), 623, Marker Mans, Parsi CIny, Dadar, 400014; July 26 Tlirily Darabsliah Mehta (71), 69, Sea Glimpse, Worli Hill Rd, 4000IS; July 26 Pretty Jahahux Haivoy (21), MATRIMONIAL Required a nice, highly qualified doctor, engineer or a well placed businessman for a slim young girl, age 26, ht 5’372”, fair, good looking graduate (B.Com) now helping her father in their family business. Irani and Parsi boys are welcome to apply. Boys from abroad can also apply. Please forward your complete bio data and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/23-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelopebears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for a 34-year-old Zoroastrian male, 5’8”, B. Com, working in Calcutta with a reputed private firm for the last nine years. Girl must be educated, good-looking and home-loving from a good family, working/non- working. Please reply with photo (returnable) to; The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/24-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelopebears the reference number cited here. Difficulties in reading? 1S8IB ¦ Bit aiB a iS It’s time you saw a professional optician. It’s time you came to Baliwalla Homi. One of the finest optometrists and contact lens practitioners Baliwalla & Homi Private Limited OPTOMETRISTS Flora Fountain: 365, Dr. D.N.Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 287 4916, 287 1762 • Dhobi Talao: 614, J.S.'Seth Marg, Bombay 400 OO2.Tel: 201 4906 Fax: (022) 206 4363 • Parel: J.Merwanji Street, Parel, Bombay 400 012 Tel: 412 6051 55 Parsiana September 199917/D, Ruslom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 27 Behli Rnsloin Sepoy (59), B/l 3, U, P. Ngr, Dr Ambcdkar Rd, Bandra (W), 400052; July 27 Najii Nariman Mehta (85), 3, Tata Milks Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; July 28 Goal .lehangir Writer (86), P/7, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; July 28 Nargish Phiroze Badhni (82), B/8, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; July 29 Cool Framroze Bharucha (59), A/13, Nowroz Baug, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; July 29 Cool Savak Irani (66), 2, Kismet, Opp Sassoon Dock, Colaba, 400005; July 29 Sheila Adi Sahiar (70), 62, Neel Kamal, Peddar Rd, 400026; July 29 Dhnn Dady Batliwalla (74), 409-C, Libra, Lower Kharodi, Malad (W), 400095; July 30 Dana Fdiilji Billimoria (87), Empress Bldg, 13, Nusserwanji Petit St, Grant Rd. 400007; July 30 Kava.'; Fram Byramji (72), 4, Petit Block, Mehla Patel Agiary St, Grant Rd, 400007; July 30 Perin Soli Desai (78), A-1 1, Indian Hotels Soc, N. Dutta Marg, Four Bglws, Andheri (W), 400053; July 30 Phiroze Khnrshedji Palkhiwala (80), A6/11-23, Lie CIny, Jeevan Bima Ngr, Borivli (W), 400103; July 30 BIRTHS Boys Girls MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females FIGURES AT A GLANCE* Bombay This issue 1999* India This issue 1999* World This issue 1999* 3 2 3 26 43 45 43 130 9 4 280 307 2 2 1 1 6 6 1 7 2 1 10 9 7 3 6 1 60 47 3 4 19 17 1 ?Running totals for 1999 (January 1999-September 1999 issues) Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsianadoes not have a breakup of those cremated. *¦ 'These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Par si ana . They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. CanopiLS Apts, Boat Club Rd, 411001; June 25 Banoobai Ardeshir Patel (87), 24, Pushpak Soc, Kalyaninagar, 411014;June 26 CALCUTTA DIED Keki Sorabji Avari, husband of Roshan and brother of late Dinamai Khambatta and Putlamai Mehernosh; June 4 DELHI BORN A boy, Rayan, to Arnaz and Visiasj) Hhagwagar; May I SURAT DIED Khushroo .lehangir Bhariicha (78), Room no 205, Dcvchaya Apt, Shahpore, 395003; July I Nozer .lamshedji Panihaki (49), Dadabhai Park, Vakil St, Shahpore, 395003; July 2 Darabshaw Hormasji Paid (79), Perin Villa, Adagra St, Nanpura, 395001; July 12 Meherbai Dai ahsha11¦ Ichheiporia (82), Vakil St, Shahporc, 395003; July 14 Ralamai Rejonji Chacha (88), Mota Mohallo, Rustompura, 395002; July 20 Roshan Yazdi Bhagal (40), Village Adaian, Disi Sural; July 26 Mehr and Murzban, and Nariman Vatcha, son of Shireen and Cawas; July 2 Zhaleh Comissariat, daughter of Anita and Hoini, and Rooshad Golwalla, son of Sarfaraz and Feroze; July 23 Fanihanda, son of Homai and Noshir of Leicestershire; May 22 KENYA DIED Manchershaw Hormasji Dehoo (82), father of Homi, Earuch, Cawas, Manek and Aban Sutaria, in Mombasa, April 10 UK Berkshire DIED Khorshed Peter Lilley (59), Rolphton, Island Farm Rd, RG7 4EB; July 5 DIED Minoo Shawakshaw Chothia (75), 14, Stonecroft, Shrewsbury Crescent, NW 10; June 8 Middlesex DIED Adi Ashburner (84), Sherezade, 26, College Rd, Isleworth, TW7 5DW; June 16 Surrey DIED Roshan Dehnugara, Corrigan, The Chase, Couldsdon, CR5 2EG, May 31 POONA DIED Phiroze Hataria (73); January 26 (cremated) DIninjishaw Hormitsji Mehta (84), 872, Dastur Meher Rd, 411001; June 15 Sheroo Ritstomji Driver (75), Shalimar Chowk, Daiind, Dist Pune, 413801; June 16 Babi .lai Sabawala (82), AUSTRALIA New South Wales DIED Pilloo .lai Sidhwa, mother of Sohrab, in Sydney; June 3 London BORN A boy, Sam, to Ashraf and Farokh Fa/ahati, brother to Nikzad; May 12 A boy, Zal, to .lenaz and .lavid Canleenwala; May 16 USA California DIED Perviz Bejan Malbari, sister of Khurshed Kotwal; July 4 56 Parsiana September 1999 CANADA Ontario MARRIED Rinawaz. Shroff daughler of MARRIED Kashmira Mislry of Middlesex, daughter of Sil loo and Jal, and Homyar Texas BORN A girl, Katie, to Sharmeen and Percy Master in Houston; July 7 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver