Oct 1999

, .uwiMKiifirtariT-T, & t 't 1 UifijC^Mta^Wz in ’'^ OCTOBER ISSO' Rs 30 rttcy!EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama 2 Readers’ Forum r ?? October 1999 Volume 22 Number 3 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 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 Change in publishing schedule In orderto comply with postal regulations whilst minimizing mailing costs, the Parsiana publishing schedule is to be modified. Instead of February-March and July-August being two-in-one issues, only June-July will be a composite publi ­ cation. January and February will be separate issues whereas earlier there was no issue for the month of February. March will be a special Jamshedi Navroz issue, and August, the special Pateti issue. The calendar that we published last . year in December will now constitute the issue for that month. Readers will continue to receive the same number of issues as previously and the same quantum of editorial matter, if not more. Parsiana is now on schedule thanks to your support. Your assistance has made it possible for us to upgrade our computer equipment. We thank our loyal subscribers and generous advertisers and donors for bearing with our delays all these years. 6 Events and Personalities 16 Zoroastrians Abroad 25 Dr Shernaz Cama: Documenting a lifestyle by Arnavaz Mama 32 A Long Journey sadly cut short by Burjor Karanjia 34 Jimmy Boy: Patra on a platter by Jeroo Irani 39 Business 41 Polly Umrigar: Wielding a worthy willow by Hilla Guzder 44 Dr Bomi Sethna’s Anatomy Analysis by Dr Aspi Mehta 45 Sri Lanka Parsis: Treasured on the Island - 3 50 Books 53 Milestones 55 In Memoriam: Dr Dara Antia Cover: A scene from Such A Long Journey Photo by Sharon Stephens Parsiana is edited and published by Jehangir R. Patei for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, A-191, Road No 16A, MIDC, Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane (W), 400604. 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 subscription for one year (11 Issues) Rs 325; for two years (22 issues) Rs 625; for three years (33 issues) Rs 925. Foreign subscription rates: Seamail for one year Rs 575/ US $ 15/UK £ 9/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 must be feasted upon by the man-eating animals and then the bones kept for Khurshed-Nagirashni. The dokhma is built specially to serve both these pur ­ poses and since in modern times it is not possible to let loose man-eaters in the dokhmas, the vultures are the best alter ­ native. Due to developmental activities around these dokhmas the vulture popu- sum of Rs 15,000 as donation, in ex- lation has certainly decreased. After a change of a right to vote at trusteeship elections, the amount collected is not voluntary. As such it cannot be called ‘donation ’ and it can only be called ‘extortion. ’ Time and again we are told that all our woes, worries and misfortunes in the government are due to the fact that the Indian Constitution has allowed adult or kind, but in case you want to vote for a trustee of the BPP, you are required to pay a minimum sum of Rs 15,000. It is simply sickening to read about the rights of donors. ‘Donation, ’ means to give or contribute, in cash or in kind, voluntarily, to any individual or any institution. When the BPP accepts a Readers’ views are welcome on any Malabar Hill could be permanently shut 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. point there may not be any, defeating the very purpose of these dokhmas. To increase the vulture population over there will be difficult even if more greenery is introduced. One solution I can put forward is to slowly shift to the more natural environs on the outskirts of Bombay, ensuring undisturbed vul ­ ture population over there. The state franchise to be exercised by the illiter- government should be asked to sanc ­ tion such lands, preferably on hills or hillocks, and new dokhmas should be built there. An act should be passed preventing any sort of developmental activities within a radius of about 10 km misfortune that we have unscrupulous around the dokhmas. As such dokhmas politicians who will go to any length to acquire power and retain the same. Do not blame the electorate, blame the down and after a prolonged period they dirty politicians, may be completely destroyed and the land reclaimed for any further develop ­ mental activities, which can be gainful to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Otherwise in the face of growing oppo ­ sition from the growing population around Malabar Hill, the state govern ­ ment can cook up a sudden surprise for the BPP. I feel the BPP must take this ducing adult franchise? The Punchayet should stop issuing baseless arguments and come out openly to discuss the ate rriasses. I have witnessed elections in Uttar Pradesh and other places and I can say confidently that the so-called illiterate masses are honest and mature voters and know what to do. But it is our become operable, the old ones at In our community we have honest, mature and intelligent persons who can be trusted. The BPP should have no fear as we are responsible and know our duty. However, the community will not be responsible if the candidates are not of proper caliber. Why are the trustees afraid of intro- “The Greening of...” It was highly encouraging to read what Dinshaw K. Tamboly wrote about our Bombay Doongerwadi (“The Greening matter very seriously and start looking of... ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, June f ’¦ ' * 1999). At the same time I am worried about what Pashmina Contractor writes (“More Parsi myths, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, September 1999). She is ab ­ solutely justified in defending our age old custom of dokhmenashini, but the Responsible VOterS All the Parsi anjumans/associations in existence at various places in India and for more suitable places where the age old custom of dokhmenashini can be problem. Be broad-minded and accept better practised without any sort of en- the inevitable. dali j.gundevia cumbrances. v. h. thanawalla Pune the inevitable. fact cannot be ever denied that at times the areas near the Doongerwadi have the stench of putrefying bodies in the abroad follow the adult franchise sys­ tem which allows all their adult mem ­ bers to vote and select the trustees of their own choice. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) is one body which has its own scheme, devised and followed dokhmas, which until a few years ago was not the case. This is mainly due to the fact that the vulture population over the years has decreased and hence in certain seasons, especially in rainy and post rainy seasons, the uneaten bodies by them. The scheme is anti-Parsi, anti ­ putrefy within the dokhmas, emanating a stench due to the high humidity in the atmosphere. According to the Vendidad, the body 2 Parsiana October 1999 Minority quota The Supreme Court has recently held that special provisions like reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes or other backward classes are not per ­ missible in terms of the national inter ­ est for admissions to super speciality courses in medicine and engineering, where merit alone should be the sole criterion for selection. Reservation percentages above 50 percent as followed by some states put minority communities at a great disad ­ vantage since only a minuscule per- democratic and such scheme is not in existence anywhere in India or abroad. Normally to vote for a particular party centage of seats is reserved for these or an individual you get some gift in cash communities. In spite of their obtainingvery high percentages of marks, far in learn of the following Irani surnames: excess ofthe minimum qualifying marks Abtin, Afagh, Afkhan, Afrigani, prescribed for the general category, boys Afsheri, Aliabadi, Ariyanfar, Aryan^, tion is meaningless. As true Zarathush ­ tis, it is our duty to keep our environ ­ ment clean and tidy. To think good, to do good and to be good. mountains. ” True, but you have to face the mountains first. Faith without ac- khan, Bakhshay, Bakhtiyari, Bamasi, Bastani, Bozorgi; Chemi, Choukuri; Dehmeri, Dindar; Elubudi, Estegomat; Falati, Faramarzian, Ferzadi, Ferzandi, FARZAN MAZDA Dahanu com- and girls of minority communities find Aspandiary, Azadpur, Azrami; Baba- it extremely difficult to get admission in medical and engineering colleges. Now that competitive merit alone will be the criteria for selection they will have a wider base for admission. Thus Forogi; Goodarzi, Gostaspi; Hushangi; the decision of the Supreme Court will Ighani; Javanmardi, Jubani; Kabir, Her mite tO mitigate be really beneficial to minority com- Kashmiri, Kashnavi, Katkhodiyan, Fifty-one years ago, a pious, genteel munities including the Parsis. Kermani, Keyani, Khashidari, Khosh- Parsi boys and girls should therefore rovi, Khoveri, Koorus, Kuchobyogi; compete for admission in courses of Malati, Mazda, Mazre-Kalamtari, medicine and engineering purely on Meher-E-Zend, Mehzadian, Mubaraki; merit by obtaining a high percentage of Namdariyan, Nasrabadi, Noreyazdan, Nusian; Oshtori; Parestani, Parsaai, Partov, Peshtoni, Purbehrami; Rashidi, Shamerdan, Shaveri, Sherazi, Shokre- Khodah; Tafti, Tausian, Tawakkuli, marks in these important fields of edu ­ cation. This should be done early be ­ fore any legislative measures are taken to sanctify reservation percentages. As regards the quota reserved for Teherani, Tejam; Yazdani, Yazdi; minority communities, educational in- Zainabudi, Zandbof, Zaq, Zarthosty, stitutions want proof at the time of Zartoshty-Manesh. admission from competing candidates Ours is one of the oldest and purest woman, Mani Siganporia, embarked upon doing her own personal mite to mitigate, to the extent possible, hard ­ ships of a few members of the commu ­ nity around her. By word of mouth she appealed to her near and dear ones to extend a helping hand. Being generally very kindhearted, more and more Parsis started coming forward to lend a help ­ ing hand to this philanthropic endeavor. A good number of the community in z.M.ZEND Bombay as also in the rural areas of . . south Gujarat desperately needed help that they are members of a minority PUltU HUG UlOUntUinS in one form or another. Although the community. They can cite a notifica- Ours is one of the oldest and purest task was daunting the efforts continued tion dated October 23, 1993 issued by religions of the world and it is our duty with even greater vigor and were ulti- Government of India, Ministry of to keep it this way. Our community has mately institutionalized under the name of Zoroastrian Ladies Committee. Twice every year, on Jamshedi Nav- roz and the Shahenshahi New Year, at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, Welfare which reads: “In exercise of always been economically and socially the powers conferred by clause (c) of sound. But there are many problems section 2 of the National Commission ' " ' for Minorities Act, 1992 (19 of 1992), the Central Government hereby noti ­ fies the following communities as ‘the minority communities ’ for the purposes of the said Act, namely: Muslims, Chris ­ tians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis). Sd/- (P. K. Mohanty) Joint harmony without fighting. Secretary. ” r , s . gae New Delhi that we face today. There is a lot of enmity amongst Zarathushtis. If such evil thoughts come into our minds, I am foodgrain packets and a few essential sure we will be one of the extinct spe ­ cies of the world very soon. After all. Lord Zoroaster formed this religion so longing to the community as also to the widows in the six widows ’ chawls in Bombay. These inmates of the widows ’ If we have any problems regarding chawls and residents of Doongerwadi religious matters, we should always are also provided with blankets, towels, solve them through peaceful and right- napkins, utensils, kusti, etc free of cost, ful means. Recently, the Parsis of Then, the inmates of the Parsi ward at Dahanu met at an anjuman meeting to discuss the issue of mixed marriages and whether women who have married commodities worth Rs 400 each are given to over 2,000 needy families be- that we may live together in peace and Crab, not crow eaters Since the publication of the book Crow Eaters I have meant to explain the wrong interpretation of the slang “kagra khaoo (crow eaters) often used by Bom- outside should be allowed in the fire ­ bay Kolis, for the Parsis. It is actually temple. People started screaming and “khekhra khaoo” which literally means shouting and no one knew what to do. crab eaters, which we Parsis were and Finally they didn ’t come to any conclu ­ sion. If we all fight on religious matters like that, then what is the meaning of religion? Are we gaining anything? I petuates poverty. In order to break this the J. J. Hospital are provided with wholesome meals twice a week involv ­ ing a monthly expenditure of Rs 8,500. Parsi patients at the free wards at the Parsee General Hospital as also the Ma- sina Hospital are given financial assis ­ tance of over Rs 1,20,000 every year. are. We certainly do not eat crows. sion. If we all fight on religious matters Poverty leads to educational, eco- In my school days in Bombay, be- like that, then what is the meaning of nomic backwardness which in turn per ­ sides calling Parsis ‘‘"kagra khaoo" a religion? Are we gaining anything? I petuates poverty. In order to break this hand gesture would be made by putting understand that this is an important vicious circle, the Zoroastrian Ladies Committee has been supporting every year the education of 18 Parsi girls at the Bai Avabai Petit School and of five at the Home for Rural Parsi Zoroastrian Girls by providing for fees, uniforms, books, etc. Further, a few deserving issue but there are better means of solv ­ ing such problems. If we have to survive in the next millennium we should live together and Surfing Irani surnames Parsiana readers may be interested to one palm over the other and moving all 10 fingers, to imitate crabs running on sand. We the Parsis are crab eaters and not crow eaters ! This can be clarified by any first “resident, ” any old Koli, of help each other when we have prob- Bombay. Dr phiroz dastoor lems. Unity is a must for this purpose. We should always point out students are also provided with college someone ’s mistake and show him the and hostel fees, etc. In addition, the right path and we should never feel Athornan Madressa at Dadar, Bombay, afraid to do so for “faith can move continued on page 52 Dr PHIROZ DASTOOR Ontario, Canada 4 Parsiana October 1999Events and Personalities ratory where their van, specially fitted with metallic boxes accommodating books to interest students from Std I to Std VIII and science paraphernalia for on J V iV V- f Prime cure nnd values Among their key projects are the By providing bore wells and developing mobile library and mobile science labo- catchment areas to supply drinking wa ­ ter, by introducing crafts like card mak ­ ing, vermiculture and sewing to help generate income, by focussing on pri­ mary health care education and bal wadis Std VII to Std X tours different sites for the village chil- , 9 f request. The leaves be- GhardaFoundation is i hind one box endeavoring to pur- with one sue its “philosophy of _ school for a development rather week and ar ­ than charity and (striving) to make vil- ¦* <* . .tt lagers self-reliant, ” as notes their handout. Started in 1996 by Dr Keki H. Gharda, the founder and man ­ aging director of Gharda Chemicals Limited, The Gharda Foundation is a pri­ vate, non profit, philanthropic organization dedicated to ho ­ listic rural development. “Our village development schemes focus on developing coop ­ erative schemes with villag ­ ers to provide them with the basis for self-sufficiency and self-deter- Top: Gharda (right) inaugurating the MuSCUm for memories mination, ” notes their literature. They animal husbandry program are presently concentrating their efforts Below: New school at Bharan and on four villages in Maharashtra (Dhamni, women engaged in an income Kadavli,KumbhavaliandDalwatne)and generation project two in Gujarat (Bharan and Boridra) where with the participation and involve ­ ment of the villagers they are pursuing with the feedback from the students, to...purchase (JRD’s) residence on their four-fold objectives: providing The mobile library which is their im- Altamount Road, valued at Rs 40 crore, ” basic necessities of clean water, sanitary portant contribution in the Khed taluka according to the newspaper report, surroundings, health and schooling; im- reaches out to approximately 30,000 Built in the middle of the 19th cen- proving agricultural output and produc- < ’ ’ ’ tivity; securing a self-sustaining econo- phlet. my to halt urban migrations; empower ­ ing women and children to raise the family standard of living. tine and critical medical care and hopes to start a blood bank, if donors come forward. The Hospital also maintains a mobile dispensary which provides care to the sick of the surrounding villages and educates them on issues such as vaccination, family planning and pre ­ vention of communicable diseases. Registered as a public charitable trust with their office at 5/6 Jer Mansion, W. P. Varde Marg, Bandra (W), Bombay 400050, the four trustees managing the Foundation are Dr Kekr Gharda, Dr Sonya Meh- ¦IBIB ta, DrM. Go- I khale and U. i A. Maroo. In I addition to their four . paid social ’ workers they have a chain of social ani ­ mators, consultants, village committee members facilitating the work of the Foundation, considerably assisted by I the Gharda Chemicals ’ office staff at I Ankleshwar and Lote, mentions I spokesperson from the Foundation. IPW 1 1?^ hs i'j a i» The Cairn, home for over 50 years to the late J. R. D. Tata and his wife Thelma, may be converted into a museum to keep alive memories for posterity, noted a write-up in The Indian Express of ranges to pick it up the next week along August 17,1999. “Tata Sons is planning with the feedback from the students. The mobile library which is their im- reaches out to approximately 30,000 children every week, states their pam- tury, the Scottish style colonial bunga- . ' . low is supposed to have a dining cum The 20-bed Gharda Hospital run by living room at the lower level with a the Gharda Medical Foundation in the Lote area in Maharashtra provides rou- small flight of steps leading to 10 bed ­ rooms. One of the rooms in the bungalow 6 Parsiana October 1999was converted into a lathe workshop with education system, ” the RUDOLF STEINER EDUCATION WORKSHOP special electrical connections where JRD proposed Education Re- FOR KINDFRrADTFM “used to spend his free time, ” Ratan newal Foundation is seek- MlWClIWUlltR Lalkaka, chief executive of the Petit Trust ing to establish a Rudolph was quoted in the paper. The property Steiner school in Bombay includes 1.3 acres of lush green iand and by next June, funds per- a built-up area of over 60,000 square feet mitting, announced the dotted with small beautiful cottages which Foundation ’s representa- serve as servants ’ quarters, it was detailed in the paper. Since the property was rented to JRD by Sir Dinshaw Petit 111, (Thelma ’s Fl TEACHERS AND CHILDREN a JULY 2Z- TO AUCUST 2Z 1999. %EDBr:PATH|^ U.K. *-¦ 4 Of ¦ J s, ing knowledge at the curriculum level (From left) Hague, Aban Bana and was founded by the eminent Austrian Brillant: advocating new learning Sons has bid for the prop- Dr Rudolph Steiner who died in 1925, theory and practice of Waldorf educa- erty but there are a num ­ ber of permissions to be sought before acquiring it, ” reported a spokes ­ person of the group. The bungalow being classified as a heritage after the end of World War 1, more than 111 structure by the Brihanmumbai Mu- ^7’ ' ' nicipal Corporation, the rules stipulate Hague, a kindergarten specialist and Tata: rich heritage tive, Aban Bana at a press z conference. Also known as the Waldorf system of education, this revolu- - brother), it reverted to tionary method of impart- the Avabai Petit Residu ­ ary Estate Trust after the couple ’s demise. “Tata philosopher, educationist and litterateur Sons has bid for the prop- Dr Rudolph Steiner who died in 1925, theory and practice of Waldorf educa- ) erty but there are a num- notes a press release forwarded by tion providing an insight into eurythmy / ,-------r---------Sarosh Bana giving the highlights of for children, circle games, artistic ac- the press conference. tivities, discipline, coordinated func- Following the establishment of the tions, toy making, working with pup- first Steiner school in Stuttgart in 1919 pets and storytelling. ¦ ¦ ’ '1 Earlier in May, Aban Bana who has 700 others were started, reported Patricia trained in Waldorf pedagogy in Swit- ' " I zerland, conducted a three-week resi- that'modifications be permitted only if eurythmist with 25 years of teaching dential teachers ’ training course at the style of the structure is not altered, experience in England who had come to Khandala ’s Dhunmai Cawasji High noted the news item. Bombay to conduct a month long edu- School. Though Waldorf education dispenses with examinations and text ­ books , there is a well-defined evaluatory ers, parents and students included the procedure helped also by the fact that experience in England who had come to Bombay to conduct a month long edu ­ cation orientation course in July-Au ­ gust 1999. The course aimed at teach- Holistic education “Committed to a balanced and holistic 9 I I Moving Moving ahead Moving forward Moving more and more Movers on the move... Buhariwa/as SHIPPING, CLEARING & PACKING AGENTS For a tension-free and cost-effective alternative choose one name that offers a host of services under one roof B. C. BUHARIWALA & SONS Corporate office; 5, J. N. Heredia Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400001 Tel: 2613137, 2615451/3 Fax; 91-22-2620785, 2693144 E-mail: buhariwalas@hotmail.com ness.buhariwl@gems.vsnl.net. in Branch Office: 1310 Pragati Towers, Rajindra Place, New Delhi 110008 Tel: 5713540/573 0795 Fax: 91-11-572 0399 8 Parsiana October 1999the same class teacher remains with the j ' " • • pupils from class one to eight, ” explained Shobha De to the legendary lensman Aban Bana. “Students are encouraged Jehangir Gazdar who died on June 10, to research on their own for the respec- 1999 and was cremated at Bombay ’s live subjects through diverse reference Chandanwadi crema ­ sources and hence will not be subjected to textbook cramming in any examina ­ tion-oriented environment. ” After the eighth standard, the students will be geared for transition to the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) sys­ tem. While Waldorf schools in the West levy fees that are 12 percent of the dis ­ posable income of the parents, the fee structure in India had yet to be deter ­ mined, announced Patrick Brillant, one of the parents keen to enrol his children in the proposed school. “It is time to institutionalize alternative systems that cepted, even venerated, for one reason are geared towards developing all facul ­ ties of the growing child and interest him, and his parents and teachers alike in his educational progress, ” declared noted author and lecturer Dr Leo Rebello. pictures, ” noted a tribute by columnist torium in the pres ­ ence of those who had known and loved him. “Everythin about him was outra ­ geous —start i ng with his rates. Models quivered and quaked in their stilettos when they were booked to work with the demon-photographer. And yet, everybody fell over backwards for the chance — agencies, art direc ­ tors, visualizers and of course the mod ­ els themselves. He was tolerated, ac- Gazdar (left) with an eye for detail The legendary lensman “He was the enfant terrible of the ad world. An eccentric genius who broke all the known rules and produced divine alone (the only one that counts): Jangoo was quite simply the best, ” continued ingBrief,July 1,1999,“ActuallyJangoo De in the Afternoon Despatch and Cou­ rier of June 16, reminiscing of the 1970 Bombay Dyeing advertising campaign when she had served as his model. The year 1970 had also won recogni ­ tion for Gazdar when he created the concept. ‘We don ’t want to bring out a Air-India calendar. As recalled his close Playboy calendar, ’ was their refrain. So friend Adrian Stevens in The Advertis- Jangoo approached Air-lndia with the came up with the concept of showing different parts of a woman ’s body, draped in saris, for Finlay Mills. But the company changed hands and the new „ owners didn ’t quite accept Jangoo ’s s MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER Executive Secretarial Course < Private Secretarial Course Personal Assistants’ Programme (Working Stenographers) Office Assistants’ Course Computer Packages < Shorthand Typewriting: English, Hindi, Marathi Telephone Operating-cum-Receptionist Techniques English Conversation & Writing Skills < Interview Techniques Personality Development Business Etiquette Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) Contact us for: Job Placement & In-Company Training Programmes "CerX Sir J. J. College of Commerce '^”1 [H^ "* 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001 Sir J. J. College of Commerce "• 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001 V V Tel: 2871058/2844329, Fax: 2871185, E-mail: jjcc@bom5.vsnl.net. in Web address: http://IMCnet.org/associations/jjcollege YEARS 10 Parsiana October 1999I I (u most showing yoginis in different medi ­ tative forms. ” Twelve of her paintings were se- and deeper awareness of the whole meaning of existence, to have tasted spiritual refreshment, and to have found the perfect form of creative relaxation, ” was the com ­ ment by Mervyn Levy which can sum up Malesra ’s foray into art. Presence and absence “If you have to die do it on a holiday, I can ’t miss school to attend your funeral. ” Porochist SavakPatel, better known as Prochi or Pretty, would thus jokingly re ­ mark to her family and associates to make sure that she did not have „ to take a single day ’s leave during her 40-year career as a teacher in i Jamshedpur. In fact, her feat of not absenting herself from work earned her a mention in the Limca Book of Records in 1992. The timing of her own death on Christmas eve, December 24,1998 Rg brought to mind fond memories of her disciplined life which were shared in Manashni, the quarterly newsletter of the Jamshedpur 111 Parsee Association, in their first anniversary issue of April 1999 which was dedicated to the senior members of the community. “Ask any citizen of Describing the effort in the nearly 25 Jamshedpur and he is sure to have seen exhibits as “a revelation of an inward Pretty Patel in her long sleeveless frock soul-searching journey, ” Banerjee mar- cycling down the roads of the city, veiled at Malesra ’s usage of “soothing When she died...it brought to an end an era of dedication, care and the celebra ­ tion of the spirit of life, ” wrote Adi Chehna in his editorial. She had also earned a reputation for never being late to School, even in heavy downpours when she would cycle with an um ­ brella. There were occasions when her for two weeks beginning June 21, 1999 cycle broke down or she met with an accident, but that too did not prevent her from reaching school on time. “Her precious possession and con ­ stant companion was her cycle, ” recalled an old family friend Homi Vazifdar. B Malesra: self- taught artist idea. And though J. R. D. Tata personally didn ’t like the con ­ cept, the publicity department of Air-India was sold on the idea and pushed it through. The cal ­ endar was an instant success... in fact so much was the demand for the calendar that Air-India had to reprint 20,000 of them. Jangoo used several models for the cal ­ endarlike the late Farida Redder ’s (a dancer and choreographer of her time) hands and (actress) Zeenat Aman ’s feet... ” His coverage of the 1971 Bangladesh war earned him rec- ognition as a photo-journalist, mentioned Stevens. He was also commissioned to do several no- table features for reputed publi- cations like Life and Time maga- zines. “His work was greatly ap- preciated both in India and abroad for its sensitive treatment of In- dian subjects and several articles were published on it in the Smithsonian Journal and profes- sional photography magazines, ” stated a write-up in The Times of India of June 16, 1999. Born in 1933 Gazdar went to the Massachussets Institute of Technology, from May 11 to 17, 1999. Boston in the 1950s to study engineer ­ ing. But he left midway to pursue pho ­ tography. “With more money than he knew what to do with, he decided to follow his own path. And he did that color, its brilliance and stupendous brilliantly. Photography was not merely impact...Her compositions are lyrical, a vocation, it was his passion. And he excelled at it as only a fastidious perfec ­ tionist can. It was Jangoo who redefined parameters of both advertising and edi- lected for exhibition at the Russian torial photography, ” acknowledged De Embassy Cultural Centre at Bombay referring to him as “erudite, cerebral, well-read and intellectually arrogant and from there they were expected to be (who) with his innate refinement, his taken to the UK (courtesy Russian Em- sense of integrity and his finely-honed bassy), according to a press release, sensibilities (kept) pushing the goalposts Prior to bringing her oil on canvas paint- further...till he decided he was bored with cameras and fell madly in love with computers. ” Soul-searching journey “Her canvas varies from the blossoming of the kundalini shakti. Lord Buddha attaining Nirvana to the expressions of... Lord Ganesha, ” wrote Ananya Banerjee in The Free Press Journal when com ­ menting on Dr Kamal (Rustomjee) path by profession, Malesra is a self- Malesra ’s paintings titled “Expressions ” taught artist. “To have taken up paint- exhibited for the first time in Bombay at ing, no matter at what age or point in the Nehru Centre Circular Art Gallery one ’s life, is to have entered into a new 12 Parsiana October 1999 ings to Bombay, Malesra had held a preview at the Oberoi Grand, Calcutta Even after her retirement at the age of 63, in early February after which the works she would ride 15-20 km on her bicycle were on view at Calcutta ’s Domus Art every day, it was reported in “The tireless Gallery. teacher, ” (Parsiana, February 1992). In The proceeds of her show in Bombay the ’40s, she had won the WW II RAF were to be donated to charitable organi ­ zations like the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan and Ashadhan, men ­ tioned the Free Press article. A homeo- race at the Keenan Stadium, it was mentioned in Manashni. According to her brother Soli, she was the first woman in Bihar to ride a seven horsepower mo ­ torcycle at the age of 17 and was the first woman to participate in vintage car ral ­ lies organized by The Statesman in Calcutta.Patel was also known for her valiant defence of those who were unjustly at ­ tacked and for involving herself in all the activities of Loyola School as she police station) “to address the needs of worked under 11 principals, two of whom were her ex-students. One of her colleagues Zarine Mody noted, “She Sreenivasan was quoted in The Times of always spoke her mind and never hesi ­ tated to call a spade a spade...Prochi was one of those few gifted and talented teachers...she pre- J" pared her classes in such a way each day Patel: lived that the parents would by her values not have to worry Realizing that such information could about teaching their children when they be “dangerous ” if it lands in the hands of went back home. ” unprincipled individuals the Founda ­ tion is trying to build some safeguards GLOBE THEATRES Pvt Ltd Established April 3, 1915 Pioneers of Show Business in India for the last 84 years We rededicate ourselves to the ideals we have cherished and practised all along - namely to show NOTHING BUT THE BEST to our ever increasing number of Patrons Controlling: REGAL BOMBAY CAPITOL BOMBAY GLOBE CALCUTTA All the above Cinemas have now been equipped with ?DI ogjy sTt^ Sound System 14 Parsiana October 1999 Parle, Andheri, Borivli and Oshivara. The Foundation has appointed the first group of 170 Dignity wardens (10 per senior citizens in these areas, ” the presi ­ dent of the Foundation Dr Sheilu i>: «. Ik" India of August 17. The Dignity wardens are expected to make friendly visits to these elders, call them periodically, provide assistance as required on security measures. The Foundation is preparing a data base of 1^^ elders residing alone and invites them to register with the Foundation through a specially installed Security Helpline (3841845), noted Sreenivasan. who has been appointed regional war ­ den for the south zone which covers 19 are other Zoroastrians who have volun ­ teered to be wardens too. They also hope to involve young volunteers in this scheme who can help run errands for these senior citizens and if nothing else, “just a smile and modest can work wonders in the lives of these elders who stay alone. ” Some of the “do(s) and don ’t(s) ” in the interest of the elderly were carried in the Bombay Times of August 19: Do not Saturdays were reserved for social work through the Rotary Club. She also into the system, mentions Noshir Antia took the initiative for collecting funds for the Khan Sahib Rustomji Pestanji Patel Cheshire Home at Karandi and for police stations. In addition to him, there the Sisters of Mercy working with the lepers in Sakchi, notes her borther. A gifted artist, she enjoyed drawing and painting, making greeting cards, and doing make-up for the students at the School shows. Patel used her vaca ­ tions to travel to historical places across greeting from a young volunteer the length and breadth of India, spend ­ ing the barest minimum and carrying her own luggage, her brother recalls. As commented one of her ex-stu- dents Mediomah Patel, “She was al ­ ways ‘Ms Patel, ’ a teacher who instilled speak of money matters in front of the a sense of discipline in us, and when we servants; do not access or lock away were ushered in her presence, her aura your money orjewelry in their presence; of authority dispersed whatever little do not let electricians, plumbers do any doubts any one harbored. A glance from her would quell a mutiny, and when she said ‘pin drop silence ’... no one had the burglar alarm and an intercom system courage to drop a pin and find out. ” work in the house unless there is a sec ­ ond known person in the house; instal a with a camera in the building; maintain records and photographs of the servants and watchmen. One of the security sys­ tems which recently came to their no ­ tice was reasonably priced at Rs 8,500 and permitted the resident to view the ing at the entrance to the building from the confines of his flat. Such gadgets may be affordable to elderly Parsis who are often abused by the family and ser ­ vants, points out Antia. “By far the best protection is to let people staying around Doyens of Dignity A spate of assaults on elderly people living alone in Bombay in the recent past has contributed to many senior citizens feeling vulnerable about their face and movements of the caller stand ­ life and property. To reassure them that there is help at hand, the Dignity Foun ­ dation launched their ‘Security with Dignity ’ service on August 19, 1999. Seventeen localities identified by the Bombay police as witnessing fre ­ quent crimes against the elderly have you know that you are alone and ask been identified: Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Gamdevi, Malabar Hill, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Matunga, Mahim, Chembur, Bandra, Khar, Santa Cruz, Juhu, Vile them to keep an eye on you, ” is their advice. Compiled by Parinaz M. GandhiZOROASTRIANS ABROAD committee has been taken over by two individual members of the EB — Sarosh Manekshaw and Farrokh Mistree. •“Meetings of the EB are held in secret and the two recording secretaries of the Congress are not permitted to attend to enue. Apt S 1609, Chevy Chase, Mary ­ land 20815-3664 (Phone: 1-301- 6546250; Fax: 1-301-6540001; e-mail For the aforementioned awards an •‘Trani Zarathushtis and the younger generation have little or no representa ­ tion in the decision making processes. •“Members of the original program com ­ mittee including such illustrious and incorporate the logo of the 7WZC. The respected North American Zarathushtis Joshi. The competition is open to Zarathushti artists worldwide who may submit more than one design, 18 inches (45 centimeters) in height, which should or any other material and must incorpo ­ rate plaque space to indicate the cat- shed Jungalwala and Yezdi Rustomji egory, name of the winner and sponsor of the award. The designs must be sub ­ mitted to the WZC awards committee have been offered a part in developing the new program under the supervision and control of Manekshaw and Farrokh Mistree but have declined to do so A panel of three judges at least will under prevailing conditions. assist the WZC executive committee •“Rustom Kevala, a widely respected and the awards committee in selecting North American Zarathushti, treasurer the winning design. The creator of the nized at the Awards lunch and receive a prize of US $ 1,001, informs Joshi. Congress accord... Multi-talented professional music stu ­ dent Sorab Wadia has offered to travel to any city and give a free piano recital dfjoshi @erols.com ). as a fund raiser for the Seventh World “ Zoroastrian Congress (7WZC), informs international competition for Award the September ’99 issue of Congress Trophy Design has been announced by take minutes. Calls. All Wadia needs is an air ticket to the sponsoring city plus home stay for two days. A workshop on “Zarathushti women in the evolving society of the third be based on a Zarathushti theme and millennium — a global dialog for holis ­ tic action ” is being coordinated by trophy may be of glass, crystal, bronze (of various persuasions) as JehanBagli, Washington DC’s Shernaz Joshi Verah- or any other material and must incorpo- Maneck Bhujwala, Adi Davar, Khor- rami. Zarathushti women from India/ Pakistan, Iran and the Middle East, England/Europe, Australia/New Zea ­ land and North America will be invited, informs Congress Calls. A special lunch by March 31, 2000. plus a cultural show and a “Hall of Fame ” organized by Hovi Shroff and Toxy Cowasjee respectively will be a part of the feature. The international awards committee chosen design will be publicly recog- chaired by Dinshaw Joshi now includes prominent solicitor Burjof* Antia for India, ZTFE (Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe) president Dorab Mistry, Dr ...Hnd diSCOrd Mahyar Ardeshiri for Iran and Central Asia, Villy Ghandhi for the US, Rustom Ghadiali for Singapore, Nargesh Jamasji for Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Mid ­ dle East, Purviz Kolsawalla for Austra ­ lia and New Zealand, Dara Randeria for raged through the months of May to speakers recommended by him (sic) South Africa and Sam Vesuna for August 1999. will have a substantial number of the Canada. The call is out for nomination to the five categories: the outstanding world Zarathushti award; the award for hu ­ manitarian service and/or philanthropy; scholar Dina McIntyre in a seven-page for excellence in business or profes- letter dated May 6, 1999 addressed to sion; for excellence in the performing the member associations of the Federa- arts or literature; and a youth award for outstanding leadership. Nominations duly proposed and sec ­ onded and signed by the nominee to indicate his acceptance of the nomina ­ tion need to be submitted in the pre ­ scribed “Nomination Form ” by Febru ­ ary 29, 2000. The form is a part of the nomination package which includes details of the five categories, evalua ­ tion criteria and the rules governing the awards. The package is available from localZarathushti anjumans/associations •“The original program committee has and from Dinshaw Joshi, The WZC awards committee, 4515 Willard Av- of FEZANA and past co-editor of the FE7ANA Journal, has resigned as chair of the fund raising committee due to insulting and intolerable conditions. •“Presenters at the Congress face the prospect of censorship. •“According to what is being said in Apprehension that liberal, Iranian and younger generation voices may be India (unconfirmed reports but volun- swamped at the 7WZC in Houston in teered from three separate sources), 2000 created a piquant situation in North Khojeste Mistree (Zoroastrian Studies America recently. The controversy founder), his wife, his secretary and “Many of us are deeply troubled by speaking invitations (although theEB ’s reports of what is going on with 7WZC official position is that speakers will not and its Executive Board (EB),” noted be identified till February 28, 2000).” Pennsylvania attorney and Gatha The EB comprises Dolly Dastoor, co-chair of the WZC 2000, as appointed by FEZANA; Homi Davier, co-chair as appointed by the ZAH; Farrokh Mistree, tion of Zoroastrian Associations of North co-vice-chair as appointed by FEZANA America (FEZANA) and the commu ­ nity at large. A covering letter has been endorsed by Chicago ’s Keki Bhote. The EB of the Congress and the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) have as appointed by ZAH; Sarosh Collector reassured FEZANA that the Congress as treasurer; Framroze Patel as presi- will be open to all shades of opinion. The nine points McIntyre cited in ­ cluded: •“The chair of the program committee appointed by FEZANA has been fired, (a member of the ZAH governing body) and Arnavaz Sethna (from ZAH) were appointed recording secretaries but it is not known by whom. “The complete (he has resigned since then for personal reasons and been replaced by FEZANA vice president Dr Ardeshir Anoshira- vani); Sarosh Manekshaw, co-vice-chair dent of FEZANA; Jimmy Mistry as FEZANA’s liaison to the Congress; Yasmin Pavri as president of the ZAH working committee. Behroze Daruwala been disbanded. •“Control of the work of the program 16 Parsiana October 1999 Iabsence ofirani Zarathushtis and young 2000 drafted by Vancouver ’s Bella Tata — the McIntyre letter was not included adults from the EB is astonishing and and adopted by FEZANA in June 1997. on the agenda of the FEZANA AGM on unacceptable, ” notes McIntyre. Khorshed Jungalwala had been ap ­ pointed co-chair of the program com ­ mittee by FEZANA. McIntyre notes that Davier appointed Rustomji and Kaemerz Dotiwala as its two vice chairs. The original pro- h gram committee H comprised H Bagli, Bhuj- H wala, Davar, H Pallan Ichaporia H and Shahriar ¦ Shahriari, the H lone young Ira- H nian on the team. By November ¦ --I r > and adopted by FEZANA in June 1997. “The Guidelines give the EB authority June 19, 1999. to take disciplinary action including the right to deny a person committee mem ­ bership, but require that in all such cases, the person ‘get a fair hearing FEZANA to ratify the actions of the EB after due process. ’ ... There isn ’t a scintilla of evi- dence that the wholesale firing pending on the size of their member- of all members program committee and its chair was the postpone any decision to boycott the result of any dis- Congress. McIntyre further writes, “If WP*'" ciplinary action within the next few months, they present against these persons, much less that they publicly support the Congress (with were given any kind of a hear ­ ing or due pro ­ cess, let alone a reason why they cott this Congress, and so (I have been were fired. ” Some of them (the exception difference. But that does not matter, being Shahriari) Sometimes, in this muddled old world, were requested one has to make a stand for what is right, to accept the po- regardless. ” The official ZAH response to the direction of Manekshaw and Mis- McIntyre dated August 7, 1999 signed by chairman Yasmin Pavri and mem ­ bers of the committee notes, “We would At the AGM, ZAH representative Roshan Sethna said, “Trust us. We will give you a great program. ” ZAH asked and its program, receiving 22 yes votes and 21 abstentions (some of the asso ­ ciations have more than one vote, de ­ ship), notes McIntyre in a letter dated July 24, 1999 addressed to Iran ’s Dr Mahyar Ardeshiri, requesting him to to the community a proposed program which is good and balanced, I will 1998 Jungal ­ wala and her committee had actively col ­ lected ideas from around the world as to the topics Zara ­ thushtis would like to see dis- Clockwise from top left: Dastoor, Davier, cussed at the K. Mistree and McIntyre Congress, writes McIntyre. There were plans to request sition of advisor or track leader under national and international museums to loan artifacts and cultural displays of tree which they found unacceptable. Zarathushti heritage for display at Texan museums and Jungalwala had contacted who see the actions of the EB as part of like (to) state publicly, once again, that Pakistan ’s ambassador to the UN Jamsheed Marker and star conductor Zubin Mehta “to explore their partici ­ pation in the Congress. ” Despite this early headstart, “in No ­ vember 1998, the EB fired the entire program committee, and its FEZANA ologies, whereas now the program is also be noted that although many mem- appointed chair Khorshed Jungalwala, ” primarily in the hands of two people, bers of the ZAH are very actively in ­ writes McIntyre. “The meeting of the Sarosh and Farrokh, and the rumors volved in the work of the Congress, the EB at which this occurred was held in from India are that Khojeste Mistree is day-to-day planning of the Congress is secret and the recording secretaries were not permitted to be present. Therefore, it is not known who was instrumental in persuading the EB to take this action or why. We are sure that the EB was motivated by good intentions in permit ­ ting themselves to be persuaded, but in firing the FEZANA appointed co-chair, by McIntyre. Despite the endorsement steering committees. The Seventh Zara- ‘disbanding ’ the program committee, of five FEZANA member organiza- thushti Games will be held two days and taking over its functions, the EB, in my opinion, exceeded the authority North Texas (ZANT), the Iranian Zoro- granted to it by FEZANA in the Guide ­ lines. ” All of the EB’s actions have been (ZAGBA), the Zoroastrian Association Writes McIntyre, “There are those whatever little influence I have). But I will not play politics. Nor will I be window-dressing. If the proposed pro ­ gram is not well-balanced, I will boy- informed) will many others. I do not know if our absence will make any a power grab. I do not care to speculate we support the current structure of the on such motives. It is interesting, how- EB as well as the steering committees, ever, that before the events complained It ensures equal participation from of, the program development was in the FEZANA, the organizers of the Con- hands of leading and respected North gress, and from the ZAH, chosen by American Zarathushtis of various ide- FEZANA to host the Congress. It should ologies, whereas now the program is Sarosh and Farrokh, and the rumors from India are that Khojeste Mistree is calling the shots for the new program. It done by the EB and by the various is also interesting that one of the ‘legacy steering committees, rather than by the projects ’identified in theProgram Guide ZAH working committee. is a book to be written by Farrokh Mistree which is ‘underway. ’” A revamped proforma for the orga- Congress attractive to the youth has nizing of the Congress was suggested always been a priority of the EB and the “You have spoken eloquently on the need to involve the youth. Making this of five FEZANA member organiza ­ tions — the Zoroastrian Association of before the official opening of the Con ­ gress. The WZC 2000 sports commit ­ tee, under the able and very enthusiastic astrian Association (IZA), the Zoroas ­ trian Association of Greater Boston Area chairmanship of Rustom Khosravian, has been in touch with the group who examined by McIntyre in the light of of Kansas (ZAK) and the Zoroastrian organized the Zarathushti Games in the Operating Guidelines for the WZC Society of Washington State (ZSWS) California. Some of the sports commit- 18 Parsiana October 1999clear that my resignation was for per- explain, sonal reasons (which I explained at the FEZANA AGM) and not in response to the false and malicious allegations that everyone on board. Many volunteers have come on board. There are those who have chosen not to; all for valid 6, 1999.” reasons no doubt. For those who have Wrote Mitra Valatabar, president of chosen to stay away I suggest that the ZANT to Pavri, “With five associations Congress train has left the station with a host of people on board. Why not on board this train — those who have already volun ­ teered to make their con ­ tribution to this Con ­ gress?... To those who are still standing at the station I say — the Congress train will be stopping at other stations at which you will have the opportunity to board... ” Protesting against the allegation in McIntyre ’s letter, Khojeste Mistree had written to Patel on June 10,1999: “I was Dina ’s resolution on the agenda and if invited by the Congress co-chairs to ¦ t1 From left: Bliote, Jungalwala and F. tee members from Houston attended these games and have established a rapport with the organizers of the Cali ­ fornia games who will be assisting us to host the Seventh Zarathushti Games in (Dina McIntyre) made about my brother Houston. These games were made part Khojeste and me in her letter dated May of the WZC 2000, in large part to en ­ courage more participation by our youth. As you know, ZYNA (Zoroastrian Youth of North America) is currently supporting the Congress I don ’t know busy organizing the Youth Congress in why Framroze Patel did not see fit to put provide an opportunity to folk already Montreal and has not had time to get actively involved with the planning of the WZC 2000. The Zoroastrian Youth Group * of Houston (ZYGH) will be J making a presentation at the I Montreal Congress to ask for ¦ volunteers to develop sessions I that are relevant to the youth. I Members of the ZYGH have I already had several Congress ¦ meetings. The current program struc ­ ture has a track specifically for youth Mistree issues. This allows for a session on youth issues on each day of the Con ­ gress. The Congress will open with a they say they resolved it why not say identify the ‘names and addresses of jashan performed by our adult mobeds, something about it at the AGM, why talented people in the field of arts, and end with one performed by the keep it from everyone and tell everyone science, literature, business, sports and younger mobeds, in a symbolic passing that only Dallas has supported it, I of the torch to the next generation. As really don ’t get it. So please understand you can see, not only does the Congress that we are all in support of (the) Con- begin and end with the focus on the next generation, it makes the youth an inte- into the issues and also find out why 21 the WZC 2000 as per the e-mail dated gral part of the proceedings. associations chose not to vote in favor December 2, 1998. I did not, at any “Your closing paragraph gives us of ZAH’s request. You should look and point, solicit an invitation to be a mem ­ great concern. You state that if the see why people are not participating ber of the program committee nor have program is ‘good and balanced, ’ you because after all isn ’t this Congress for I sought to take any actions that in any will support it, otherwise you will boy- all and if some are not happy the word way would impose or affect the work- cott the Congress. We heard both co- of mouth is strong and will not bring in ings of the World Congress. Subse ­ chairs invite everyone to be a part of the Congress at our joint meeting in Hous ­ ton. They have stated this again pub ­ licly at the FEZANA AGM. We believe gion, and if we don ’t try to see where the that they are making every effort to problem is we will lose people all the include anyone who wishes to partici ­ pate. In spite of these efforts, there are a few people who, for reasons of their own, have chosen not to participate. We do not believe that this should be construed as a failure of the EB to have a ‘balanced program. ’ “We urge you to set a good example of the cooperation that you so desire by casting an ‘abstention ’ could be many, being a bridge between those who feel alienated and those who are working hard to make the Congress a success, and by volunteering to speak on a topic that interests you. ” In an e-mail missive to the ZAH tive the opportunity to deliver the goods, working committee Farrokh Mistree notes explicitly, “I do wish to make it “The WZC 2000 executive and Con ­ gress team has made a lot of effort to get music... ’ as early as April 10, 1998. “Thereafter, I was invited to be on the program development committee gress but let ’s stop fighting and look by both yourself as well as the board of into the issues and also find out why 21 associations chose not to vote in favor see why people are not participating because after all isn ’t this Congress for all and if some are not happy the word of mouth is strong and will not bring in the participation that you want. Our quently, as per an e-mail dated March numbers are small, we are not a very big community and a very dominating reli- 10,1999,1 was asked by the WZC 2000 co-chairs to be the chairperson for the ‘International Program Advisory ’ in or ­ der to provide support for all the task forces. Again this designation was not solicited by me. “In my e-mail dated January 19, 1999, I have expressed unequivocally the following, ‘I would like to see the time. ” Responded Farrokh Mistree, “At the FEZANA AGM a majority of the asso ­ ciation votes were in favor of the reso ­ lution proposed by ZAH. The rest were abstentions. Allow me to point out that program evolving upon the above broad- you too abstained in the voting. The based lines wherein controversies are reasons for association representatives kept at bay and what we enjoy and agree upon should be the themes we should for example, being unfamiliar with the focus on, letting a mosaic or diversity issue at hand, not having the OK from emerge within an underlying core of their local boards to vote on the ZAH religious unity. I also strongly feel that resolution, wanting to remain neutral, wanting to give the WZC 2000 execu- for this spirit to remain germane we should build a program around speak ­ ers, not on a political basis... “With this overall sentiment in mind, I suggested (as I was asked to) to give a etc. But what does the issue of absten ­ tions have to do with the future? Let me 20 Parsiana October 1999of events to each association and which she also notes, “...the bottom line is: we is also available from the secretariat of all want a successful Congress... On the tive to have operated within the Guide ­ lines developed for the Congress. A vote abstentions. That clearly indicates that of confidence was passed by the member many members were not happy with the associations, and the executive was situation. And that also reflects the feel ­ ings of many people in the community at large... “I think we all have to swallow our of invitation to all Zarathushtis world- pride and ego... and cool the rhetoric, so as to give ZAH a chance to deliver on its producing an all-inclusive Congress promise to give us a great program. This they will not be able to do if we gies. We want this Congress to bring keep fighting with each other... “We have heard some very beautiful words about good intentions for an in ­ clusive program. Now we must give them a chance to produce actions to match those words. ” In a message of new year greetings “As co-chairs we want to close this list of speakers who would bring learn ­ ing, and knowledge to the Congress. For the ‘history component ’I suggested the Congress. The matter was discussed positive side, ZAH has pledged that some 17 themes for which at least 11 at the FEZANA AGM on June 19,1999. there will be no censorship, and that all speakers were non-Zoroastrian, inter- “ " nationally recognized scholars, and associations found the WZC 2000 execu- therefore would have no axe to grind nor would they want to promote a po ­ litical agenda for themselves... “In my letter to you, I also suggested that another special track be organized, charged to carry on its work, if the need was felt, in which lay people could be given the opportunity to ex- unfortunate chapter and extend our hand pound their understanding of the doc ­ trine ‘...giving a religious plurality and wide to join the WZC 2000 team in variety to the participants. ’ Does ‘reli ­ gious plurality ’ not offer a spectrum of which will cut across different ideolo- diverse views? Furthermore, for this track, I did not suggest the names of any people from all parts of the world to- speakers, lest a finger be pointed at me... “Might I ask you most humbly, why you as the president of FEZANA, have sphere spanning millennia. While not already written a strong rejoinder to doing we also want to spend time plan- Keki Bhote and Dina McIntyre, whose ning for our future, and developing missive dated May 6, 1999 has raised a strategies which will stand the test of dated August 7, 1999 Bombay Parsi controversy not only in North America time in the 21st century. Punchayet trustee and World Zoroas- but now in India, as well... “The ‘future ’ belongs to all of us; than Organisation, London vice presi- “Moreover, is it likely that sitting together we will win or lose the legacy dent Dinshaw Tamboly asked, “What is thousands of miles away, and without which each of us is striving so hard to the future that we are going to leave our attending a single WZC 20CX) meeting, I can orchestrate a ‘speaker take-over ’ children ’s children. We wish to pass or dying embers? ” and followed it up as implied?... I am indeed flattered by to the next generation a well lit torch the next day with a message to Dastoor the powers that McIntyre ascribes to and not a dying ember. To create a and Davier: “I wish to express my soli- me. However, is this the true ground spirit of globalization, this Congress darity with the organizers of the Con ­ gress. ” Firdosh Mehta of Alberta con ­ curred: “Before one can practice the at the FEZANA AGM on June 19,1999. The officers ofFEZANA and its member meetings of the EB will be open... pg2ANA members voted in favor of ZAH’s request with 22 yes votes and 21 gether for five fun filled days, and im­ merse them in a total Zarathushti atmo- so time in the 21st century. “The ‘future ’ belongs to all of us; which each of us is striving so hard to preserve for our children and our youth? A well lit brightly burning flame, children ’s children. We wish to pass to the next generation a well lit torch and not a dying ember. To create a reality? You as the president of will have a few firsts: The addition of FEZANA are, in my humble opinion, distinguished Zarathushti interna- obliged and obligated to dispel this lie tional liaison officials likeDrMahyar love for power, one must understand in the interests of upholding the truth... Ardeshiri from Iran, Homai N. Modi the power of love. ” Added inspirational “I seek your unequivocal support from India and Toxy Cowasjee from speaker Meher Amalsad of California, against these unfounded allegations Pakistan, an international sports fes- made about me, my wife and secretary in Ms Dina McIntyre ’s biased missive circulated it would seem to create dis ­ harmony and strife within the commu ­ nity... ” In their “Open letter to Zarathushtis of North America ” Dastoor and Davier note: “Since April 1999, there had been and Pakistan with all expenses paid buzzing sounds in different parts of and, if we really work hard, one united North America of irregularities and world body for our community. It is highhanded way of operations by the only with the strength of the North yoke as he had witnessed in 1990. “My WZC 2000 EB in that the Board unilat- American community behind us, with fellow Zarathushtis we have as yet not erally fired the ‘program committee. ’ their moral and financial support can found what the Latvians and Polish had This buzz grew into a crescendo and so the 7WZC — the Zarathushti Odys- discovered... that solidarity exists and it many variations of the same theme kept growing that in the end it became very hard for people to know what was real ­ ity and what was speculative interpreta ­ tion. Letters were written, accusations made on unverified rumors. The situa ­ tion became tense. The executive of the the letter and McIntyre agrees that the Congress issued a factual chronology first two paragraphs are “inaccurate, ” “There is unity in community. ” The well-meaning balm could help the wounds to heal. Responded Davier to Tamboly on August 11, 1999: “You have used the word solidarity and it has tival, a global scholastic competi ­ tion, international community awards to recognize our own, unity quilt, international chamber of commerce, time capsule, a film festival, cultural sparked off a flame which had some- exhibits, opportunity for 30 youth to visit North America from India, Iran how withered down over the past five years...Solidarity is a very strong senti ­ ment which comes alive from together ­ ness ” as he recalled the silent solidarity of the Latvians that broke the Soviet American community behind us, with their moral and financial support can the 7WZC — the Zarathushti Odys ­ sey 2000, mark the coming of age of works, we mere mortals need to gather the Second Zarathushti Diaspora and in communal togetherness to find the be an event for all of us to remember and cherish for a long time to come. ” Though Houston ’s Rustomji has strenuously objected to the first part of ity! ” satisfaction, love and peace which comes as part of the complete pack ­ age... Come, let ’s discover our solidar- Compiled by Arnavaz S. Mama 22 Parsiana October 19993i ’si:’ r ~ — ----------- 1 I f I Please enrol me as a subscriber for ? One year at Rs 450 (ten issues) ? Two years at Rs 800 (twenty issues) ?Three years at Rs 1,150 (thirty issues) Add Rs 20 for bank charges on cheques drawn outside Mumbai. Overseas Airmail ? One year Rs 1,000/ US $ 27/UK £18 0 Two years Rs 1,900/US $ 50/UK £ 33 ? Three years Rs 2,850/ US $ 75/ UK £ 48 (Add US $ 5/UK £ 3 for foreign cheques) ? Payment enclosed (cheques payable to Voyage) ? Money order sent Name Address I Traveler's Magazine Subscribe to Voyage and have the world at your doorstep 10 times a year. Plus, obtain free membership in the Voyage Association of Travelers (VAT) and receive a free Voyage pocket date diary in December. OJ Mail the coupon and your payment to: Voyage Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd 300 Perin Nariman St, (Behind RBI) Fort, Mumbai 400001, India Phone: 2662709 Fax 2074541 E-mail: parvo@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in http:\www, voyage- india.com City —,----- State -------- L Pin Code Country 4 .....TRADITION Documenting a lifestyle Dr Shernaz Cama is spearheading a UNESCO project to document Zoroastrian life in India Arnavaz S. Mama L- I sions under this head are the magi, the Gathas, nyaishes, nirangs, vendidad, baj. Cama sees the present communal Heritage Site and preserve, along with the most sacred Atash Behram in India, 51 Caves, the dokhmas, the Bhikha Behram Well, the Goti Adaran in Surat, Jamshetji and other unidentified sites in Afghani ­ stan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and West ­ ern China where Zoroastrianism had flourished in the days of empire. The preservation of archival materi ­ als include Avesta, Pahlavi and Gujarati manuscripts, the Rivayats, Kisseh-i- Sanjaii, the Shah Nameh, collection in “How is it that such a small community community, ” states the project report, of less than 1,00,000 at its peak period on the subcontinent has been able to plight of “a falling birthrate and an jashan, the sacred bull, the role of man ­ make such a large contribution? How aging population, migration and fear of kind, the importance of choice, navar have they excelled in its every corner being overwhelmed by events ” as a training, the declining priesthood, etc. while keeping their own identity in- direct result of the anglicization and The second major goal is the “ulti- tact? What does their religion, seen to urbanization that has cost the commu- mate aim of involving UNESCO in an be abstruse and exclusive, twin loss of the Udvada Action Plan ... to try and de ­ teach its followers so that Parsis are best known for their honesty and hard work? ” ri The UNESCO (United I Nations Educational, Scien- I tific and Cultural Organiza- " tion)-supported project pro- posal for preserving the Parsi J Zoroastrian culture and heri- tage seeks to address some of M these questions, as notes its Cama: spreading author Dr Shernaz Cama (nee awareness about Sethna). Other institutional the community supporters include the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Delhi Parsi Anjuman. The accent of the project is on re ­ cording living oral traditions, preserv ­ ing documentary archival material and heritage sites, and capturing Parsi arts and crafts on a multimedia format. It daily life e.g. the kusti prayers; records the Royal Asiatic Library of Bombay as also aims to document Parsi contribu- the monajats which were Gujarati ren- well as in Manchester, the British Li- tions to banking, trade, industry, dairy ditions of the prayers sung individually brary and various American collections, farming, aviation, medicine, social sci- and in chorus by family and friends as a The swords in the atash behrams, spears ences, atomic research, theater, music, “bonding ” process; examines the cul- in the agiaries and maces in various the arts, etc. “Making people aware of ture of Parsi Gujarati; collates legends, dadgah are also considered archival the success of the Parsis in India is the key to generating interest in their ways, not only for social scientists but also for highlights the ecological concerns and the layman, ” writes Cama. Planning to reprint old books and nature and all the elements, viz the Under music, theater, films and dance microfilm old manuscripts and rare conservation of water, the importance would be included adaptations from • documents and making these available of the dog, etc; reviews the ritual and Shakespeare as well as the Gujarati and also on a multimedia format would physical purity rules, concepts of death English theater traditions and the Parsi enable easy access to them from any ­ where in the world. “Ultimately we aim to create an International Museum of position of women and their influence, the Parsis under the aegis of UNESCO which would also include a living cul ­ ture component. This along with a Na ­ tional Archive on the Parsi Zoroastrians both in written and other media forms would provide a complete record of the tradition, ” notes the report. Other divi- direct result of the anglicization and urbanization that has cost the commu ­ nity the twin loss of the Gujarati language — on dare the little town of Udvada a World which were based their liv ­ ing traditions and subcon- k scious psyche —and the joint the typical architecture and lifestyle of ¦ family where elders pre- the areas around it. ” Other sites envis- r served the oral traditions. To aged under this head include the Bahrot ascertain the community ’s thinking on the subject she has formulated a survey of Tata ’s birthplace in Navsari, the vari- i oral traditions (see page 27) ous cemeteries, etc in India plus the responses to which will be Pirs, Persepolis, Nasq-i-Rustom in Iran codified to produce socio ­ logical data on current com ­ munity attitudes. The project will dissect the com ­ munity ’s achievements under 10 heads beginning with oral traditions — subdi ­ vided into the living heritage, and reli ­ gion and the priesthood. The first ex ­ amines the customs and traditions of the Meherjirana Library of Navsari and and in chorus by family and friends as a “bonding ” process; examines the cul- rituals, stories, superstitions and folk ­ tales, rendering a sensitive translation; material. Parsis in politics, in professional life, in industry, trade and science are sought concepts of hygiene like reverence for to be featured in the next three modules, nature and all the elements, viz the conservation of water, the importance and disease, the ceremonies; reminisces comedy of Adi Marzban. Classical and on the lifestyles past; examines the modern Indian cinema music, compos ­ ers, singers, bands and dancers are Under religion and the priesthood will sought to be covered. Arts and crafts be included most ceremonies and prayers include kusti and sudreh making, chalk, including the higher liturgies which may toran, sapat making, embroidery and die out with the aging priesthood as “most of the prayers are part of an oral textile weaving, pheta and pugree mak ­ ing, furniture, jewelry, watchmaking and bonesetting as also painting and 25 Parsiana October 1999sonnel including a chief investigator, field workers for collection of data, re ­ sculpture. The history of institutions for educa ­ tion, research and law, orphanages and questionnaires, etc and sociologists/ hospitals would be documented in a separate module. The medical para ­ doxes that are a part of the Parsi com ­ munity — longevity, cancer and Al ­ zheimer ’s disease, G6PD deficiency, allergies, low fertility, osteoporosis, eye problems like macular degeneration, weakness of the optic nerve, retinal problems will be analyzed and searched as a separate module. UNESCO has provided the initial larged with updates. She also expects to edit 14 to 18 two-minute capsules of grassroots to the importance of preserv- , . . .. . ing the Parsi Zoroastrian ethos. She hopes to revive the practice of “core customs ” which subconsciously con ­ tributed to Parsi success and to create an awareness in the community of its tan ­ gible and intangible wealth, “blend ­ ing... old and new values for develop ­ ment. ” In addition, it is claimed that the on (2,000 copies) with a weighted average price of Rs 2,000 each) in India and abroad. “Similarly, the CD when com- advisors for analysis of the final data; plete can recover money which will contingency and consumables under contribute to other areas of the project, ” which are listed stationery, phones, fax, printing, computer consumables, Inter ­ net connection charges, etc. Cama expects the project to yield audiovisual archival material equiva ­ lent to 14 one-hour cassettes per year. Community lifestyles will be docu ­ mented on CD-ROM format, to be en- notes the report. In the meantime it is hoped that the community will contrib ­ ute. Cheques in the name of “UNESCO New Delhi ” may be sent to UNESCO House, 8 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057. Among the “intangible ” benefits of the project, Cama ’s list begins with the sensitization of the community at the seed money of US $ 4,500 (over Rs 1,80,000) and now “expect us to raise extra budgetary resources from various hopes will be broadcast by the Discov- trusts, institutions and individuals to meet the cost of the project, ” wrote the late C. L. Sharma as UNESCO’s special ambassador to India and Asia and deputy craft items, art objects, etc will be col director general emeritus in a letter to Parsiana. The 10 modules of the project estimate a total outlay of Rs 89.44 lakhs in the first two years. The estimates appeal both to the layman and the searcher ” will be produced. Since UNESCO is a non-profit organization, all the money generated by the project will be ploughed back into the project. It may be possible to recover about found a reproduction of the fravashi in a 40 lakh rupees from the sale of books continued on page 56 international quality film which she ery and National Geographic channels. For archival purposes manuscripts, books, photographs, historical records. include the production of the first grid of the CD-Rom, the first book as well as office expenses and rent, travel and lodging for seven persons involved in the research and shoot missions in Gujarat; the cost of professional per- lected, cataloged and maintained. Also, “the first in a series of fully illustrated international quality books which will project will generate information assistance available through the Gov ­ ernment of India to preserve the heri ­ tage of the community and the country. Cama says she came to Zoroastrian ­ ism through English literature, having re- Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Rh6ne-Poulenc House, S. K. Ahire Marg, P. O. Box 9138, Mumbai - 400 025. Tel : 022-493 6765, Fax : 022-495 0516. 26 Parsiana October 1999I r Preserving Parsi Zoroastrian Culture And Heritage May we request you to spare a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire which is part of a UNESCO assisted project? Thank you. Dr Shernaz H. Cama. Which newspapers do you read ? Yes ? No Name. Do you subscribe to or receive: ? Parsiana ? Hamazor ? Jam-e-Jamshed ? Mumbai Samachar ? FEZANA Journal ? FED Newsletter If yes, how often and when ? Seldom ? Regularly ? Never ? After navjote ? After marriage Address. Are you ? Behdin ? Osti/Osta If Osta, have you had any formal reli ­ gious training _______________________ (Indicate level) _____________________ RITUALS Please feel free to add any other obser ­ vances. Which of the following do you observe. Kusti Prayers ? Daily ? Twice/thrice a day ? After every visit to toilet ? Never Phone no. Place of birth. Date of birth. Marital status. How long has your family lived at present location ___________________________ Education. Profession. Family structure. No. of members. (Joint/Nuclear) If children live separately indicate whetherin India or abroad. Specify coun ­ try if abroad ________________________ Are any members married outside the community ________________________ ' . How many are unmarried in the family and over 30 years ? Male/s ? Female/s How many are ? over 75 ? over 65 ? between 12-65 ? under 12 Languages spoken. 27 Parsiana October 1999 Are you ? Fasli ? Kadmi ? Shahenshahi Do you see yourself as a ? Parsi ?Irani If Irani, indicate since how many gen ­ erations in India ____________________ If Irani, do you have any ancestors in Iran _______________________________ (Specify locations) Do you observe other prayers as under: ? Muskil-i-aasan, Behram roz ? Ava mahino, Ava roz ? Adar mahino, Adar roz ? Farvardin mahino, Farvardin roz ? Meher mahino, Meher roz ? Tir mahino, Tir roz ? Ardibehest mahino, Ardibehest roz Do you observe the Bahman mahino ? entire month ? part of it If Parsi, do you have roots, relatives, family house in Gujarat; small town/ village__ __________________________ Ghambars with local community. Indicate which ghambars (specify months) _______________________ (Please specify) Do you have a family tree. How far back does it reach. Can you provide a photograph or sketch of it _______________________________ Are you a member of your local anjuman or any other Zoroastrian body (Specify): Which is your primary place of worship ? Dadgah ? Agiary ? Atash behram How often do you visit the fire-temple ? Daily ? Weekly ? Monthly ? On special occasions ? Never If no fire-temple in area, how do you compensate for it __________________ Have you visited Udvada Iranshah: Do you light a divo? ? Daily ? On special occasions ? Never If yes, ? is it oil based ? electric ? Is there daily loban in the house ? Do you light agarbattis instead of loban Where would you dispose of the cold ashes of your home loban Do you say the ? Jamva ni baj ? Vasidi kusti Is menstrual seclusion for women observed ? Yes ? No Please indicate whether the women fol ­ low any of the following restrictions ? Not cooking during menses ? Not entering fire-temple, or ? Area of household worship ? Washing hair after menses ends ? 40 days seclusion after childbirth ? Nahn after childbirth Have you ever had a Nahn (excludingnavjote and marriage ceremonies) If yes, how often ? Once in a year ?After severe illness ? On special occasion (indicate briefly) ? Never Wedding rites Does a wedding in your family include: ? Madavsaro ? Adami ? Khichri ni reet ? Supra-ni-reet ? Lagan-na-garba (If any other please specify) Childbirth Which of the following are observed ? Paachmasu ? Agharni ? Delivery at mother ’s house for the 1 st child ? Chhati no lekh ? Vahuman on 6th day after birth (indicate ritual used) ? Besnu for baby (Indicate ritual). ? Pag laddu for baby (Specify any other) __ Is the Rasi system followed ? Yes ?No Do you know your Rasi ? Yes ? No How did you dispose of your children ’s umbilical cord __________ ____________ Navjote Who taught you the prayers ? Mehtaji ? Priest ? Parents ? Other relatives (specify) ____________________ Would you be able to explain the basic symbolism of the S ud re h ____________________________ Kusti Which prayers did you learn for your navjote ? Shahenshahi ? Kadmi ? Fasli Before your navjote did you learn the ? Sarosh baj ? Din-no-kalmo ? 101 names of Ahura Mazda ? Any other prayer 28 Parsiana October 1999 Do you know any garbas/songs associ ­ ated with navjote _________________ Do you see the navjote as a ? Social occasion ? Religious occasion ? Both Have you ever discarded or stopped wearing the sudreh/kusti ?YesONo If so, at what age Why? ? Fashion ? Peer pressure (e.g. Boarding school) Do you possess your own copy of the ? Khordeh-Avesta ?Tamam Avesta Is it in ? English ? Gujarati ? any other language Funeral Rites Do you have a functioning dakhma in your locality ? Yes ? No If not what arrangement exists Are continuous prayers recited till paidust ? Yes ? No Are prayers said after paidust ? At home ? At bungli ? At fire-temple ? Not said at all Do you observe prayers after death for ? 3 days ? 10 days ? 30 days Do you follow ? Sarosh nu patru ? Uthammna DPachli raat nu utham- mna ? Yes ? No Do you perform monthly roz and date prayers If so, for ? 3 months ? 6 months ? 1 year Are the muktads performed for each individual in your family ? Yes ? No If yes, then for ? 1 year ? 5 years ? 10 years ? 30 years Are muktad tables ? For individuals ? Family table ? Anjuman tables ? Don ’t know Are separate tables proving difficult be ­ cause of ? Lack of priests ? Expenses ? Both Other Rituals Jashans How many jashans are performed an ­ nually (if not certain give approx.) ? Specify if in your home ? Under your anjuman ’s arrangements Do you attend ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Are jashans performed (Khushali na Jashan) by your family for ? Birthdays ? Anniversaries ? Move to new job ? Move to new house ? On an auspicious occasion ? Never Do you have the farishtas performed ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Do you have maachis performed ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Do you have the baj performed ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Do you have a ses in your house ? Yes ? No Do you perform till & sagan on ? Birthday ? Navroze ? Proceeding on journey ? On special occasion Do you have a patla in your home ? Yes ? No Is it used ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Do you personally recite any of the following ? 101 names of Ahura Mazda ? Sarosh baj ? The yashts ? The niyashes ? The nirangs Do you recite/know special yashts/ nirangs for ? Healing (physical and mental) ? Warding off evil ? Protection of family ? Protection during childbirth If you recite any for other reasons, indi ­ cate which and specify reason Daily Reet-Rivaj What type of food is eaten in your home: ? Parsi ? Indian ? Western ? Mixed ? Yes ? No On ‘sagan ’ days do you celebrate with traditional food Would it include ? Dhan dar patio ? Palav/dar? Ravo/sev ? Sweet dahi ? Fish Any other special meals (specify) Do you have dhansak on a charumn in your family ? Yes ? No Do you know how to make/Do the family members make ? Dar ni pori ? Patrel ? Malido ? Achar ? Badam/Copra pak ? Popatji ? Any other traditional dish Do you sing ? Monajats ? Garbas ? Khyal Indicate if any other Frequency of such singing ? Daily ? Seldom ? Never Do you have chalk patterns on your doorstep ? Daily ? On auspicious days ? Birthdays ? Never Do you put up torans of fresh flowers/ leaves ? Birthdays ? Auspicious days ? Never Do you have bead torans over your lintel ? Yes ? No Do you wear the sudreh kusti daily ? Yes ? No Do you wear the mathubanu/topi ? Yes ? No Sapat/pagdi/pheta on auspicious occa ­ sion (male Parsi dress) ? Yes ? No Ejar/sari (ladies dress) ?Yes ?No Indicate whether in Gujarati Style Do you wear new clothes on ? Birthdays ? Navroze Do you have a ‘sagan ’ bath with milk, rose petals/rice on your birthday ? Yes ? No r Do you ever have aachu-michu/ovarnas performed ? Yes ? No If yes, ? with water ? with egg ? with coconut And on what occasion ? Birth ? Marriage ? Navjote ? Receiving relatives ? Any other occasion Would you cut your hair or trim your nails after sunset ? Yes ? No 29 Parsiana October 1999 How do you dispose of cut nails, milk teeth etc ___________________________ Would you visit a fire-temple after cut ­ ting your hair, without a head bath ? Yes ? No Do you keep a mirror at your entrance to reflect away bad luck ? Yes ? No Do you wash hands/do kusti outside the entrance of your house after a funeral ? Yes ? No How do you observe the Gatha days ? Prayer of the Gathas at home ? Visit fire-temple Would you ? Stitch ? Cut hair/nails ? Shave during Gatha days How do you pay your respects to the Fravashis during muktads ? By attending muktads occasionally ? By attending muktads on all 10 days ? By having muktads of family at home ? No special method Did you have the paheli sari ceremony ? Yes ? No Pagdhi ceremony ? Yes ? No Do you keep any pets, indicate ? Dog ? Parrot ? Cat ? Any other Would you consciously eat a cockerel ? Yes ? No Do you know the legend of and do you give respect to “Sadda mama ” (Chame ­ leon) ? Yes ? No Do you look after community (stray) dogs ? Yes ? No Do you feed a pregnant bitch ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never Do you support animal welfare associa ­ tions ? Yes ? No Do you keep the kutra no bukh rivaj ? Yes ? No Do you keep the gai ne rotli rivaj ? Yes ? No Do you offer praise to Ahura Mazda in the char deesha no namaskar ? Yes ? No Do you offer homage to the sun and moon ? Yes ? No Do you offer flowers/coins to water when first crossing it on a journey ? Yes ? No When you plant crops/seedling do you recite an Ashem Vohu ? Yes ? No Would you cut flowers after sunset ? Yes ? No Do you say any special prayer on chand- raat ? Yes ? No Would you start new actions on amavas ? Yes ? No ? Yes ? No Do you have a Zoroastrian calendar in your home If yes, is it in ? Gujarati ? English Do you know the ‘roz ’ today ? Yes ? No Which calendar do you follow ? Shaheshahi ? Fasli ? Kadmi Do you read/recite Gujarati stories at home ? Yes ? No Do you know ? Legends of Parsi history ? Stories from the Shah Nameh ? Family stories/legends ? Stories about Zarathushtra ? Comic stories Mamai-ni-Musafri, etc. Does your family pray together ? At home ? At agiary ? Never Do you have samast bandagis at your local place of worship ? Yes ? No Did you play any of the following child ­ hood Parsi games ? Kakario kumar ? Dada-no-dangodo ? Alakhi-re-pallakhi ? Ta-ta-tabadi ? Pavra pois If any other please name and quote rhymes if possible on another sheet of paper ____________________________ Crafts Are you or any family members able to ? Weave a kusti ? Make a sudreh Do you know the special prayers which accompany the above ? Yes ? No Have you ever seen a kusti being woven? Yes ? No Do you know its symbolism ? Yes ? No Do you know the specific requirements in a sudreh (indicate whichever you are aware of) __________________________ Can you or any family members make torans with beads ? Yes ? No Can you or any family members make diva-na-kakra ? Yes ? No Have you or any family members ever embroidered a ? Kor OTopi DGara Ifyes.wasitO By hand ? By machine Which embroidery stitches do you know (Specify or indicate number) Can you or any family members make ? Sapat CPheta DPagdi Do you know a Parsi hadvaid (boneset ­ ter) whom you have used ? Yes ? No Have you ever used a traditional ‘laep ’ for pain ? Yes ? No Do you attend plays/concerts ? Yes ? No Which kind ? Adi Marazban type plays ? Other Gujarati plays ? English plays ? Garbas ? Puppet shows ? Music concerts (Specify) ? Indian Classical ? Western Classical ? Indian pop ? Western Pop Do you have ? Cable TV ? VCR ? Music system ? Transistor ? Computer ? CD ROM facilities Do you have audio tapes of monajats/ • Parsi songs ? Yes ? No Have you seen Zoroastrian videos ? Yes ? No Do you have Zoroastrian books in your home ? Yes ? No If yes, are they ? On religion ? On history ?On rituals 30 Parsiana October 1999 Have you attended lectures or confer ­ ences on Zoroastrianism ? Yes ? No If yes, were they by ? priests ? visitors ? local authorities Do you have religious classes for chil ­ dren in your area ? Yes ? No Have you visited ? The Bahrot Caves ? The Walking Tree ? Bhika Behram no kuo ? Goti Adaran ? Any other special Zoroastrian sites Medical Are you aware of G6PD deficiency ? Yes ? No How many members of your family, if any, are affected by this deficiency Have members of your family suffered from ? Serious eye problems ? Retina ? Macular degeneration ? Cornea problems ? Haemophilia ? Osteoporosis ? Alzheimer ’s Disease ? Sulpha allergy ? Cancer (indicate which) Did you have grandparents/parents who lived to be over 90/80/70 years ? Yes ? No Do you give in charity ? Regularly ? Seldom ? Never If you donate would it be to ? individuals ? institutions ? Parsi charities ? agiaries Have you ever received charity/assis- tance from ? Parsi trusts ? Govt of India ? individuals ? other (specify) Was it for ? education ? daily living ? housing ? medical ? To start a busi ­ ness/ profession Other (specify) _____________________ Are you ? proud ? ashamed ? indifferent being a Parsi Do you believe your future lies in ? India ? abroad Do you see yourself first ? as an Indian ? as a Parsi/Zoroastrian Who is the Parsi Zoroastrian you admire most (in the past) __________________ (in the present) Would you write in Gujarati or English or have recorded on tape “My Experiences ” on how ? You were brought up, your childhood and later life ? What you remember about your grandparents Any other information you would like to share. Indicate ____________________ ? Written OTape Would you like to help us in preserving /reviving aspects of Parsi/Zoroastrian culture ? Yes ? No If yes then how can you assist ? By collecting oral material from knowl ­ edgeable relatives, priests ? By storing old photographs / records ? Helping in field work ? Financial contribution ? Teaching children songs / stories ? Translate works Would you require to be paid ? Yes ? No Could you work as a volunteer with expenses paid ? Yes ? No Are you aware of the Census of India regarding community decline ? Yes ? No Would you prefer to marry/have your children ? marry a Parsi ? not marry if it is not a Parsi ? leave it to personal preference Would you like to have ? 1 children ? 2 03 Do you know/sing the Chayye Hame Zarthoshti ? Yes ? No How many verses _________________ Signature of the person and date The above questionnaire pertains to only one part of the project dealing with traditions and customs. Other question- naire/s will follow. Please return the completed question ­ naire to: Dr. Shernaz H. Cama C-53, Anand Niketan New Delhi - 110 021CINEMA COVER STORY A Long Journey sadly cut short Audiences in India will never get to see the full version of Such A Long Journey due to the censors Burjor K. Karanjia ian. To offset him, there is his well- endowed secretary, Laurie, with whom the go-between Ghulam (Om Puri) to go Dinshawji is considerably enamored. The obedient Gustad at the bank is to Delhi where Billimoria is lying in a precarious condition in the jail hospital. To Gustad he appears to be in his last son he is at home. Dilnavaz hardly dares throes and is shown being given an mention Sohrab ’s name. For Gustad, Sohrab is dead. Naturally, neighbor Ms injection that has horrendous physical reactions. Even so, Billimoria musters strength to whisper in Gustad ’s ear: “Our made up for the frustration over losing wonderful Prime Minister uses the RAW like the KGB, to do all her dirty work. ” And again: “She, the Prime Minister chose me to train for supplying arms... money for supplies re-routed by Prime engage in all sorts of far-fetched, crazy tricks to bring Sohrab back. When all The movie ’s strongest point is that it is faithful to the original novel. If the 339 pages of Such A Long Journey have been successfully telescoped into a one hour, 40 minutes film, it is largely due to who appears preoccupied most of the the craftsmanship of the screenplay time scratching his armpits or his groin in a revolting fashion. Gustad pretends he does not miss Sohrab and lavishes his affection on his Long Journey earned the “Achievement in editing ” distinction at the 19th An ­ nual Genie Awards (Canada ’s equiva- writer Sooni Taraporevala and the film ’ s editor, Jeff Warren. In fact Warren ’s editing of Such A Often enough a successful literary work Madon, who is also a strict disciplinar- ports of Billimoria ’s “swindle ” and his needs to be adapted to cinema ’s needs, ian. To offset him, there is his well- arrest. Gustad receives summons from The movie version of Such A Long Jour­ ney, on the other hand, succeeds be ­ cause it adheres as closely as possible to Rohinton Mistry ’s novel bearing the quite different from the dominating per- same title. This is because the novel ’s strength lies not so much in its two parallel plots as in the array of off- center characters belonging to the Parsi Kutpitia (Pearl Padamsee), who has community. Gustad Noble (played by Roshan her own son by learning black magic, Seth) is a banker by profession, deeply takes Dilnavaz in hand and leads her to religious by nature and quite rigid in his approach to life. He has made up his mind that son Sohrab (Vrajesh Hirjee) these fail, Kutpitia tells Dilnavaz that Minister to her private bank account. ” should continue his studies at the IIT the final drastic step will have to be (Indian Institute of Technology) after taken if Sohrab is to be brought back — graduation. Sohrab has other ideas. This somebody has to lose his life in the leads to a confrontation between father process. That somebody turns out to be and son, much to wife Dilnavaz ’s (Soni the half-wittedTehmul (Kurush Deboo), Razdan) discomfiture, and Sohrab leaves the house. The other crisis in the family is brought about by neighbor Jimmy Billimoria (Naseeruddin Shah) who was very friendly with Gustad and his wife, daughter Roshan (Shazneen Damania). but leaves his residence at Khodadad When all remedies fail to cure her of a Building suddenly and quite secretively, persistent diarrhoea, he takes her to the lent of the Oscars) presentation on Feb- without even bidding them goodbye — genial, garrulous Dr Paymaster, who ruary 4, 1999. Altogether the film was till one day, out of the blue, he seeks examines her thoroughly. Gustad is natu- Gustad ’s help on behalf of the Research rally anxious to know from him what her and Analysis Wing (RAW), in a secret problem is, but the good doctor launches egories being “Performance by an actor political matter of national importance. This plot is based on the notorious Nagarwalla case in which Nagarwalla short — an uproarious scene, was alleged to have imitated the Prime Minister ’s voice in a call to a bank and withdrawn Rs 60 lakhs in the Prime Minister ’s name. He was subsequently arrested and died in jail in mysterious bage. Gustad gets a street painter (Ranjit Gunnarsson is a documentary film ­ circumstances. Billimoria involves Gustad by call ­ ing upon him to take custody of Rs 10 raculous results. People who used the lakhs and deposit the amount in the bank where he works. Gustad seeks his bank colleague Dinshawji ’s (Sam Dastoor) help in depositing the amount. The bank has a stiff, straight-backed manager. nominated for 12 Genie Awards and won prizes in three, the other two cat ­ on a commentary on the world ’s prob- (Roshan Seth) in a leading role, ” and lems till Gustad impatiently cuts him “Achievement in overall sound. ” Director Sturla Gunnarsson brings Gustad ’s troubles on the home front out the story ’s nuances with tact and are minor irritations. An empty disused understanding.Thecrowdsandthechaos wall right in front of Khodadad Building of the city ’s streets have never been so is used as a urinal and for heaping gar- dramatically presented (no wonder. Chowdhry) to paint gods and goddesses maker). The music too is unforgettable, the entire length of the wall, with mi- echoing and reechoing the story ’ s moods . The delineation of a middle-class wall to throw rubbish or empty their Parsi family and of the eccentric neigh ­ bladders now come with offerings of bors in Khodadad Building is done with flowers! the minutest attention to detail and But trouble is brewing on another splashes of good humor. Apart from front. Newspapers carry disturbing re- Gustad, his wife Dilnavaz, the black 32 Parsiana October 1999I ( r i; Btil'?!.,. hj is 33 Parsiana October 1999 Tehmul is hit by a brick in the re ­ sulting commo ­ tion and killed. note. While the wall in front of Khodadad Build- , the freedom of ex ­ pression granted to one medium cannot be denied to another? The censors may argue that cinema audiences are com ­ paratively immature, but the fact is that ning his fingers through his son ’s hair and mumbling “Yes! ” and again, “Yes! ” What the censors in India object to (the Nagarwalla episode) has appeared ences in foreign countries wherever this film has been released. magic practitioner Kutpitia and Dr Pay ­ master, the novel ’s characters include the bellicose Mr Rabadi who stands at his window every morning chastising ing is being de ­ God for the error of His ways for doing molished in order the wrong things to the right people and to widen the road, the light things to the wrong people; the ~..................... inquisitive Inspector Bamji who is such a busybody; and the street painter who is not only an artist, but a scientist and a philosopher. “Life is the spit of gods and The residents and goddesses, ” he murmurs as he pads away neighbors stand softly on his bare feet at the novel ’s end. around his dead All the actors ’performances are good body making all to excellent. But Seth ’s rendering of sorts of sugges- Gustad is truly memorable. Far, far more effective than the one-dimensional portrayal of Pandit Nehru in a televi ­ sion serial. His bank colleague, Dinshawji, is played with restrained clowning by Dastoor. In Tehmul ’s role Deboo somehow fails to bring out the pathos underlining his craziness. His sexual frustration is truly pathetic — even the prostitutes will have nothing to do with him despite him offering them the coins he has been collecting for their favors. He has no resort but to copulate with the doll he has stolen from Gustad ’s daughter, Roshan. In the novel, if I remember correctly, Tehmul is depicted masturbating with the naked doll in front of him. One feels this might say: “Daddy, it ’s Sohrab. ” Gustad turns have been more tasteful than showing and moves forward to embrace him, run- him copulating, which is visually ugly. The camera could have focussed on his face, capturing the excitement and the ecstasy. The film ends on an unforgettable in more or less the same form in several tions on how to dispose of it. Without a word Gustad comes forward, kneels, putting newspapers. Surely, one hand under Tehmul ’s neck and the other under his knees, lifts him like a child and carries him up the staircase to his room. There he lays down the body, places the censors themselves are immature, the doll he loved “not wisely, but too well ” by his side and, covering his own head with Tehmul ’s used pyjamas, be ­ gins praying for dead Tehmul ’s soul. His alienated son, Sohrab, who had come home to visit his mother, and has been watching all this in wonder and admira- duced by Paul Stephens and Simon tion, now hesitantly comes forward to tied as they are to a censorship code that a committee appointed by the govern ­ ment itself, the Khosla Committee of Film Censorship, found outdated and out of touch with current realities! Thus a film of outstanding merit pro- MacCorkindale and distributed by United Studios Limited is made to suffer because of a prehistoric code, and audi ­ ences in India are deprived of a moving and enriching experience which, irony of ironies, has been enjoyed by audi-BUSINESS Patra on a platter Lagan nu bhonu can be enjoyed every evening at Jimmy Boy Jeroo Irani other occasion, media icon PritishNandy gressive confusion of flavors that is the came to savor this heartwarming fare. There were also a couple of bejewelled best part of a Parsi feast. We believed Irani when he said, “I taste the food before it ’s served. It won ’t be served Our delight was undiminished by the fact that the dessert list was not entirely authentic. Apart from lagan nu custard and kulfi, it included mousse and brown ­ ies which are unheard of at a Parsi wed ­ ding. Yet they were crafted to perfec ­ tion. Much of the meal was heavy. Success is obviously within Irani ’s ceed, ” says the restaurateur who gradu ­ ated from Dadar ’s Institute of Hotel priced at Rs 45 and the vegetarian ones range from Rs 25-35). “Equally important is personalized Applied Nutrition. “As a Zarathoshti I say my prayers every day. This helps service, ” feels the graying, bespectacled naturally. ” His main marketing tool has a small outfit which retailed oven-hot breads, pastries, etc and which won him the Small Business Award. “When you smile and welcome your guests person- a feisty, largely unsung cuisine. The lagan nu bhonu is the three- month-old eatery ’s main drawing card. Irani. The lagan nu bhonu gourmet comes across as a warm, easy-going It is at Parsi weddings that one sees the almost mystical attachment that the mi­ nuscule community has to food. A ba ­ nana leaf smeared with a pat of blood- dowagers, young newlyweds and eld- red pickle; steaming hot patra ni machhi erly couples. When we went there for unless I approve of it. ” slathered in green chutney and wrapped lunch one afternoon, the eatery was full in banana leaf; sali boti, tender pieces of of businessmen and executives pecking mutton and apricots floating in a red on burgers and nibbling French fries, gravy; an aromatic pulao and dhansak Jimmy Boy is rarely empty, it would dal. These are the ingredients of a Parsi seem, and even in the evenings it is nirvana. No self-respecting bava or bavi reasonably full, worth his or her dhansak would down this gourmet repast without tingling grasp. “Yes, the restaurant is a hit, ” he ribsticking and loaded with meat which gulps of red raspberry to cool the raging says with characteristic modesty, pride is as it should be. Though Jimmy Boy is gastric fires. flaring briefly in his hazel eyes. “It was a temple to the carnivore ’s creed, veg- Now one doesn ’t have to wait for the first spate of invitations that come with feeling that the restaurant would suc- the onset of the wedding season. Jimmy Boy at Bank Street (a primarily com ­ mercial area in south Bombay) offers Management, Catering Technology and lagan nu bhonu for Parsi cuisine aficio ­ nados and brave hearts who want to savor its chilli-hot delicacies. naturally. ” His main marketing tool has restaurateur who learnt this important Brainchild of Aspy Irani, a returning been word ofmouth publicity that he has truth during his stint Down Under. In native who had migrated to Australia in earned for being innovative and extend- Sydney, he owned and ran Hot Breads, 1989, the 80-cover eatery resembles a ing the city ’s culinary horizon to include jazzed up Irani restaurant. The typical black chairs (some say they were im­ ported en masse from an indeterminate East European country), whirring ceil- “The success of a restaurant depends ally, it makes a big difference, ” says ing fans, handmade tiles along the walls, primarily on the food it serves, which hand-polished wooden beams overhead should be good and consistent, ” says — the spirit ofCafe India, the precursor Irani. The wedding feast is conjured up person who does not package himself to Jimmy Boy, still lingers. The same sensitivity to nuance and detail comes across when one talks to after decades of cooking for Parsi house- the47-year-old entrepreneur who is pas- holds. Deftly, the chef turns out saas ni sionate about his latest venture, particu- machhi, murghi na farcha, mutton pulao, larly his stroke of genius — serving lagan nu bhonu at dinnertime. (The eat ­ ery has two avataars — it ’s a fast-food housewives to shame. restaurant by day and an ethnic Parsi eatery by night.) “It was an idea whose changes every day. We tried the lagan time had come, ” says Irani who is dis ­ armingly modest though he and his in ­ novative restaurant have been the sub ­ ject of a media blitz. Most of the nights are celebrity-studded and one evening we saw MTV VJ Cyrus Broacha walk in for dinner with his buddies and on an- flaring briefly in his hazel eyes. “It was a fluke. I played a hunch and I had a gut etarian sensibilities are taken care of with vegetarian snacks and quick meal platters (non-vegetarian snacks are by a Gujarati chef whose skills have for the media, mouthing quotable quotes, been marinated and richly simmered but is a storehouse of basic homespun wisdom. He speaks with the conviction of a faith healer and the persuasion of a life insurance salesman. “You have to be committed and success will follow. You don ’ t need a permit room and danc ­ ing to make a success of your restaurant. But you need to have the guts to be different. Zarathoshtis have a lot of tal ­ ent. There are so many architects and chartered accountants. If you are inno ­ vative, you ’ll be on the right track. ” Apparently, Irani is on the right track and the stories are multiplying. A sardar from Punjab read about Jimmy Boy in a magazine on his Delhi-Bombay flight dhansak dal, kid ghosh, etc, with an expertise that would put many Parsi The menu of the wedding feast nu bhonu (Rs 250 for non-vegetarian and Rs 150 for vegetarian — inclusive of taxes), served on trimmed banana leaves placed on melamine plates — saria served in a bread basket, Parsi rotlis and achaar were the prelude. What followed stormed our tongues in an ag- 34 Parsiana October 1999I 8 ''5' A 1 H (Top row) Jimmy Boy: ¦ satiating Parsi palates ¦ (Photo: Gustasp Irani) rznJ Aspy H Irani. (Below) Gulnar and I Aspy (right) with their V daughters and Jamshed »} and Gaver Irani (left) W '¦1 ’ l" ' L « 1 r ?¦) r-'f. b I I * wanted to continue running the business and respect). ” in the same old way and refused to expand. So I left, frustrated. ” However, Irani ’s relationship with his ial bells rang once again and he decided When his uncle Boman Irani who ran Cafe India fell ill, Aspy’s entrepreneur- 1 and decided he had to try out the new restaurant, especially since his mother was a Parsi. Irani recently had a group of way he ran his Bristol Bakery in Mahim. family shuttles back and forth. “I kept my 10 Gujaratis, residents ofHong Kong who “I am a self-starter and highly motivated, promise and got his blessings. Noam had heard about the opening of Jimmy I like to change, to innovate. My father raakhyu (maintained the family ’s name Boy and decided to try it out on their next visit to Bombay. A neurosurgeon who was bound for Canada for his nephew ’s navjote decided to host a small party for his Parsi and non-Parsi friends at Jimmy parents was always warm and loving and that he had at last found his long awaited Boy since he could not afford to fly them he promised them that he would return to there for the festivities. “I’m happy that I did a good deed and the surgeon got to celebrate his nephew ’s navjote in style in the same year), Irani returned home to here too. ” Irani ascribes a good deal of his success IM had migrated to Australia in the wake of in the Lucky Country, Irani stayed behind his father ’s adamant refusal to change the to run the bakery. Even to this day the ) break. Despite the fact that people were India, should they need him. When his sceptical about the fledgling restaurant ’s father fell ill in 1994 (and later passed away success, Irani soldiered on. The rest, to repeat a cliche, is history including the story of how the eatery got its unusual yet apt name. Irani related how he would to his parents Gaver and Jamshed and the Gulnar and three daughters (Nazneen, call his father Jamshed regularly from fact that he has earned their blessings. He Delnaz and Michelle) continued to reside Australia and greet him with, “Hi, Jimmy help run ±e family business. His mother passed away soon after. While his wife 36 Parsiana October 1999For Navjote & Wedding Receptions Children’s Parties Contact Ladies Lunches Social Gatherings Z Z Z Z ~ Z Z ». w. RESTAURANT at Celebrate at Caravan 65, Murzban Road, Fort, Mumbai-400 001. Tel: 2072492-2077513 Fax: (91 22) 2076310 A i>eiy central, convenient location For an authentic Udvada experience Globe Hotel and Hotel Majestic Contact 02638-70282 Majestic 02638-71144,70243 Globe Managed by Neville Godiwalla 13/13, Sai Niketan, B Wing, 345, Mount Road, Mazagaon, Bombay 400010 Tel Nos .: 3775842, 3775360, 3742065, 3717036 38 Parsiana October 1999 Boy. ” That ’s how the eatery came to be christened Jimmy Boy, enshrining the memory of a father who was tough yet loving, stubborn yet giving. “I remember coming to this very restaurant as a boy and having to wait at tables, being made to wash the cups and saucers after school (St Mary ’s),” he recalls. He didn ’t realize then that he was destined to have a close and won ­ derful relationship with the same eating house. “This is what made us tough. Today ’s Zarathoshtis have become soft. Even in Sydney I used to make my older daughter help out in the business, so she would know what life is about. That way they earned their pocket money. ” His greatest accolade, says Irani, came from Vithal Kamat, of the chain of Kamat restaurants. “I salute you fordoing some ­ thing different and not selling out. These days no one wants to put in hard labor, ” said the fellow restaurateur who told the budding tycoon that most of his restau ­ rants were formerly Irani eateries. Irani feels that even if an Irani bun-maska- chai restaurant that isn ’t doing too well is converted into a Chinese eatery, it is preferable to selling out. “It means that they are moving with the times. Zara ­ thoshtis should make the maximum use of their assets, ” he asserts. When talking about the community threatened with the specter of extinc ­ tion in the new millennium, Irani urges that one shouldn ’t look at the issue with blinkers on. “One should work out a deal to bring children of intercommu ­ nity marriages back into the fold. Un ­ fortunately, our younger generation is not so well informed about the religion and hence they may stray. For instance, the Muslims and Christians make a conscious effort to preach and inform the young about the basic tenets of their religion. ” While Irani would prefer to have Zoroastrian sons-in-law, he knows . that if his daughters do marry outside the community, there isn ’t much he would be able to do about it. Ultimately, Irani, it seems, does not rule the roost — either at home or in the business — like a tyrannical autocrat. He does not sit at a galla (cash counter), symbol of authority and power in a traditional Irani joint. “I have all my systems in place and can keep tabs on everything, ” he avers. In his case, it is obvious that most times easy lies the head that wears the crown. He leans back and sighs, “Naturally, it ’s tough sometimes. But I have no regrets. ”BUSINESS banking at the Saudi British Bank Lim­ ited, a group associate, and he rose to become its deputy managing director. It was then on to Hongkong as senior manager, group corporate planning, in Hongkong Bank ’s international depart- the Bank ’s overseas business in the US, UK, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, joined the Central Bank of India in Australia and New Zealand. 1965, states his bio data. He moved to As senior executive. Global Banking the Union Bank of India as direct proba- Services, HSBC Holdings pic in Lon- tionary officer in 1969. He has served don, Cama reported directly to the HSBC on various committees of the Indian group ’s CEO. In March ’98, he moved Banks ’ Association and the Reserve back to India as deputy CEO. The HSBC Bank of India (RBI). He was part of a group had assets worldwide of US $ 497 sub-group on the revision of the CMA “I have travelled the full circle, ” says Hoshang Noshirwan Sinor, managing Banking on Cama banking at the Saudi British Bank Lim- registered office in Baroda and corpo- He is the first Indian, and the first Zoro- ited, a group associate, and he rose to rate office in Bombay, the Bank had astrian, to head the British bank in its become its deputy managing director, total assets of Rs 6,982 crores as on over 100 years of operations in India. It was then on to Hongkong as senior March 31, ’99, according to Bank Zarir J. Cama took over as the chief manager, group corporate planning, in sources. “The whole assignment (with executive officer (CEO) of The Hong- Hongkong Bank ’s international depart- ICICI Bank) has been so much more kong and Shanghai Banking Corpora- ment, with specific responsibility for satisfying, ” asserts Sinor. tion (HSBC) on October 1, 1999, sue- the Bank ’s overseas business in the US, Born in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Sinor ceeding Dyfrig John who is to be the deputy chairman and CEO of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, according to the Bank ’s press release. “I am excited at the prospect of work ­ ing in a positive and dynamic economic environment in India. I look forward to seizing opportunities to increase our business here and continue to provide billion as on June 30, 1999, according (credit monitoring arrangement) format our customers with world-class banking to their press release. at the RBI under the Tandon committee and financial services, ” asserted Cama. , and a member of the recent Kannan committee on MPBF ^(maximum per ­ missible bank finance). Though he started in the clerical cadre, by 1977 Sinor was elevated to senior management position, accord ­ ing to his bio data. As regional man ­ ager, south Bombay, he was in charge of the Bank ’s biggest region. He soon became assistant general manager and was for a year and a half the chairman ’s executive assistant. In 1994, on eleva ­ tion as general manager, he became head of the North Zone at Delhi. In 1996 Sinor moved to the Central Bank of India as its executive director, joining ICICI Bank the following year. His multifarious banking experience has seen him participate in training Terming ICICI (Industrial Credit and courses at the INSEAD Institute at Investment Corporation of India, which Fontainebleau near Paris and at exter- currently holds the major part of the nal training centers like NIBM, Poona Bank ’s equity) a “professionally run and Administrative Staff College, Hy- organization where creativity can pros ­ per, ” Sinor joined ICICI Bank as execu ­ tive director in July ’97, becoming MD and CEO in June ’98. “When I joined I had set my sights on making ICICI Platinum plaudit As CEO, Cama heads a network of At ICICI Bank’s helm 26 branches in eight cities in India. As country head, Cama will also be the chairman of the securities and capital director (MD) and chief executive of- markets operations which provide in ­ vestment banking, research and equity ICICI brokerage services. “We want a cus ­ tomer to bank with us right from the cradle to the grave, ” Cama told Corpo­ rate Dossier, Oc­ tober 1-7,’99, the weekly supple ­ ment of The Eco­ nomic Times. “Ei­ ther you offer the customer what he ’s looking for, or someone else will, ” said Cama. Cama: first HSBC’s origin Indian to head in India goes back HSBC to 1867. In 1959 HSBC took over the operations of the Mercantile Bank which had started in India in 1853, according to Bank sources. The HSBC group is one of the world ’s largest banking and financial services organizations, headquartered Bank number one in the new generation Business World has ranked Glaxo India in London, with over 5,000 offices in 79 countries, states their Bank profile. Cama joined the Bank 31 years ago. After two years of training in London he returned to India, working in various operational capacities and becoming our peer competitors, ” states Sinor. chief accountant of the Bank in India, states his bio data. In 1982 he moved to the group ’s international corporate ac ­ counts division inHongkong. Two years of India. The Bank now has 60 branches, later it was back to India as head of 11 extension counters and 85 ATMs merchantbanking. In 1988 he was posted (Automated Teller Machines) all over to Saudi Arabia in charge of corporate India, notes a bank official. With its recognition to re ficer (CEO) of Bank. “When I started my career in bank ­ ing 34 years ago, it was in the private sector, I later saw social control and banks being na ­ tionalized. Now I S'mor: banking have come back to on creativity the private sector and I have found the past two years fruitful and rewarding. ” - i derabad, state Bank sources. Sinor has travelled extensively in the USA, Canada, Europe and South-East Asia. private sector banks. We have already Limited as India ’s most respected com- increased our volume of business three ­ fold to become the largest of the new generation private sector banks. Our aim now is to record the largest profits among 2,000 pany in a survey covering 229 com ­ panies and over respon ­ dents. “This is a great all-time ac ­ hievement, in a ? k'. Set up in 1994, ICICI Bank was one of the first banks established under the new banking policy of the Government long record of sue- cesses that Glaxo 1 .JR - . India has had. It is Kliusrokhan: also a very fitting long record of successes 39 Parsiana October 1999 ceive as we complete 75 years, ” the around the world. ” AFL, with its turnover company ’s managing director Homi of Rs 620 crores in ’98-’99, brings to the Khusrokhan said. The criteria included, besides market capitalization and turn ­ over, quality of product and service, quality of leadership, innovativeness, customer orientation, eco-friendliness, sonal computers) connecting offices, hubs film Such A Long Journey based etc. The survey, conducted once every and key customers like McDonald ’s for Rohinton Mistry ’s novel, “there was no two years, was spread across 15 Indian cities. zine Business India (Aug 9-22, ’99). Having set up USE, which accord ­ ing to Desai is the largest television post alliance its expertise in logistics of over five decades, with its infrastructure of 200 production/li ve coverage/animation net- offices and service centers all over India, work in South East Asia, which co- 3,900 employees and 1,200 PCs (per- produced with a Canadian group the 1 on and key customers like McDonald ’s for Rohinton Mistry ’s novel, “there whom the company moves by the tonne, challenge left in running it on a day-to- in refrigerated trucks, ingredients like day basis, ” said Desai. As executive cheese from Baramati, lettuce from Ooty director of Triton, Desai will run the Ar lu HlllSnCC and Dehradun and meat patties from agency and have a share in the profits as In the first service of its kind in the Hyderabad, according to its published country, AFL Limited (formerly Air- figures. The new Supply Chain Consultancy well, states the magazine. Guzder: strategic alliance ties of the Indian business world. freight Limited), the com ­ pany which launched air Services (SCCS) will bring better speed, freight forwarding in In ­ dia in 1945, entered into a strategic alliance in Au ­ gust ’99 with IQL (Insti ­ tute of Quality Limited) dertake research and development to and NUT (the second larg- provide solutions grounded in the reali- est information technol ­ ogy services company in India) to provide consultancy in the area Buck tO advertising Noshir Desai, former senior director in Lintas who quit advertising-four years ago to set up United Studios Limited (USL), is returning to the ad world by joining the Bombay-based Triton Ad- Compiled by Hilla P. Guzder GOOLKHUSH RESORT Bordi (Station Golvad) ‘Off Seabeach ’ AC-Deluxe Couple Rs 1,000/- extra person Rs 450/- Non-AC Couple Rs 800/- extra person Rs 350/- Inclusive all meals and free access to swimming pool, once a day. Contact 3821494 Pager No. 9628238800 02528 41182-41336 quality and agility in supply chain man ­ agement, which is a loop that begins and ends with the customer, states their company handout. SCCS will also un ­ of “supply chain management, ” accord ­ ing to a company press release. Cyrus Guzder, AFL’s chairman and managing director, stated; “It is impor ­ tant to bring in newer concepts and prac ­ tices in supply chain management from vertising, states the fortnightly maga- k 4 1 * BHARUCHA STONE AND SANDWORKS PRIVATE LIMITED India ’s first commercials and making plant to be set up in Pune using complete Swedish technology imported from Svedala, Sweden for a world class product Manufactured out of black basalt rock, this sand will cater to all the needs of the construction industry in the Pune region “1 Registered office ‘Kutika ” 31/1, Pune-Sholapur Highway, Pune 411013 Tel no: 91-20-670030, 670494 Fax no: 91-20-670094 40 Parsiana October 1999SPORTS Wielding a worthy willow Veteran cricketer Polly Umrigar is selected to receive the prestigious Col C. K. Nayudu Award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India Hilla P. Guzder a point of principle following a difference of opinion over the choice of a team member with the then BCCI president. “But as a player they couldn ’t keep him name of a legendary cricketer whose out, ” noted Prabhu. Umrigar recalls one of his most memorable performances in the Trinidad (Port of Spain) Test in 1962 against a battery of West In ­ dian pacemen. He made 56 runs, took five wickets and then scored an s-=- epic 172 not out, and all this despite a strained back. “The West Indies suited me. I also got a lot of runs against Pakistan, ” he recalls. With 12 centuries to his name (against all the Test-playing nations except Australia), Umrigar entered the record books as the first Indian to score a double century when he made 223 versus New Zealand in the ’55-’56 series at home. “Though the one-day format is interesting, I feel a Test match involves much more thinking and planning, one gets more time to attack and defend. Present day fielding is, however, much sharper, ” he comments. Umrigar started his career with the Pentangulars way back in 1944. “Though I was born in Bombay, I learnt cricket as hands... ” “I will cherish this Award for the rest “When I started, we were paid the glori ­ ous sum of Rs 65 per Test; at the fag end of my career it rose to Rs 350,” laughs of my life, ” stated Umrigar. “I consider Polly (Palanji) R. Umrigar, recalling his this a great honor, for the Award is in the days as a Test cricketer in the 1950s and i early 60s. And there was no one- day cricket, live TV coverage, no wearing of logos, no endorsement of luxury products to enhance in- «, come! Over a cricketing innings span ­ ning 50 years, Umrigar has been a player, captain, manager, coach, selector and office bearer in cricket associations. Honored with the pres ­ tigious Colonel C. K. Nayudu Award for ’98-’99 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the 73-year-old, six-foot-tall Umrigar will receive a cash prize of two lakh rupees, a citation and a trophy with a statue of India ’s first Test captain (Nayudu) mounted on it. Umrigar is the fifth recipient of the Award, after Lala Amamath, Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Hazare and K. N. Prabhu. “If there is one person who lives, breathes, dreams cricket, it is Polly kaka and against whom I had an opportunity to and the stature of the Award has in- play at the fag end of his (Nayudu ’s) creased by him receiving it, ” wrote cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar in the Sunday Mid-Day, August 8, 1999. “It is no secret that Polly kaka, who was doing the willow for 3,631 runs at an impres- a yeoman job as the executive secretary of the Cricket Control Board, left his office (which he had occupied for 10 years) in less than cordial circumstances and for took 35 Test wickets. “His off-breaks the Board members to overlook that and could win matches as they did in Decem- ¦ recognize his towering contribution to the ber ’59 at Kanpur, when he joined Jasu I I V i y • •' t f ! //iM UHi // >1 I yj Umrigar: half century of cricket service Photo courtesy: The ADC cricketing abilities I hold in great esteem career. ” Wearing the India cap in 59 Tests between 1948and 1962,Umrigarwielded a young boy in Sholapur on a matting . * ¦ - wicket as my father was working in the sive average of 42.22, according to his mills there, ” he reminisces. It was the bio data. An all-rounder who was often Nagarwalla brothers, Tehmul and Jehan- India ’s middle order mainstay, he also gir, of Sholapur who coached him and laid the foundation of his cricketing ca ­ reer, he acknowledges. After his ma ­ triculation from Bombay ’s Bharda New game and Indian cricket in particular has Patel in sending the Australians pack- High School, Umrigar joined St Xavier s raised the Cricket Control Board ’s stock in the minds of Indian cricket lovers, ” wrote Gavaskar. Commented sports off the field, Umrigar has on more than scribe and previous awardee Prabhu in the Mid-Day of July 28, “Umrigar was very much like C. K. Nayudu (CK)... as tall as CK, with a large predatory nose scoffing at all bowling and picking up circumstances after just eight official and every catch...with those capacious f College, completing his BSc with chem ­ istry and botany as his main subjects. “It was B ahadur Kapadia who coached us in one occasion paid the price for not doffing College, ” he elaborates. Umrigar gained his cap to the people in power. Umrigar valuable experience playing in the Lanca- won the very first Test he captained, but his tenure as skipper ended in unfortunate ing, ” observed Prabhu. Known to be a gentleman both on and shire League in the UK through five English summers. In his long career in first class cricket, he scored 14,629 runs fourunofficialTests when he resigned on and took 259 wickets. During his six- 41 Parsiana October 1999year captaincy of the Bombay Ranji Tro ­ phy team, Bombay won five times, all in succession! When his playing days were over, Umrigar took the Indian team to the West Indies, New Zealand and Australia as manager in the 1970s. He was the chair ­ man of the all-India selection committee between 1978-’82. With a long record of service to the Mumbai Cricket Associa ­ tion (MCA), Umrigar has officiated as its joint honorary secretary and chairman of the selection committee. He took active part in the construction of the Wankhede Stadium and in the preparation of the pit ­ ches and one of the gates into the Stadium has been named Polly Umrigar Gate. In 1962, the Government of India hon ­ ored him with a Padma Shri, which he received along withTest cricketer andformer captain Nari Contractor, with wicketkeep- er/batsman Farokh Engineer receiving the distinction in 1973. The Maharashtra gov ­ ernment awarded him the Shiv Chhatra- pati Award in ’86-’87. The MCC (Mary- lebone Cricket Club) has honored him with an honorary life membership, as have many cricket clubs all over India. For the benefit of young cricketers, Umrigar has painstakingly authored a booklet called Cricket with Polly R. (* 1* 8 r (¦ '4 d The young all-rounder at the crease •S' S' Umrigar, published in June ’99, which is distributed free of charge to clubs , school s and colleges. “He (Umrigar) knows ex ­ actly what the learner wants and should know. Although normally a technical book isdull and boring, because of Polly ’s handling of the subject it becomes very interesting, ” wrote former Test cricketer Madhav Mantri in his foreword. Why is there no promising Parsi crick­ eter today? “Our young boys are prob ­ ably not persistent enough. One cannot play for a year or two and then lay off. Practice has to be continuous, ” com ­ ments Umrigar who is currently on the cricket improvement committee (a sub ­ committee of the MCA), which seeks to raise the standard of Bombay cricket. In 1956, Umrigar joined the Associ ­ ated Cement Companies (ACC) and worked there for 30 years, retiring as manager (administration). Wife Dinoo says she thinks she knows all about cricket, Polly thinks she ’s still “learning !” Though she does still watch cricket matches, “When Polly was playing my interest was more personal, ” she says. Of the Umrigars ’ three children, Pesi is with the Food and Drug Administra ­ tion in the USA, Fall is financial director of Colgate-Palmolive in Sydney, Austra ­ lia and daughter Shireen Lala is married in Bombay. “I am not much of an out- goer, ” states Umrigar candidly. “We lead a simple, homely life. I do not really know what goes on in social circles, nor am I a good judge of community affairs! But I do know that in cricket, the Parsis have deteriorated! ” With Best Wishes From Mr Rusy M. Shroff, M.B.E. and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff 42 Parsiana October 1999OBSERVATION Anatomy Analysis The late Dr Bomi Sethna ensured that his students grasped the basics of anatomy Dr Aspi M. Mehta With best wishes from Farah Tanya 44 Parsiana October 1999 g' Sethna was born in Bombay on Au- ust 21, 1916. His father expired when he was barely three years old. He was brought up by his mother, and the lack of wherewithal for his educa ­ tion was a very real concern. But he overcame it all by diligent study and the nu ­ merous scholarships he earned as a brilliant student. After passing his matricula ­ tion in 1935 he joined Wil ­ son College where he passed his Intermediate Science in 1937. He strator in anatomy at GMC in 1943. He rose to be a lecturer in anatomy there in 1945. He passed his MS in general surgery in 1945, earning another gold medal, and his BSc (Med) in 1953 with distinction, taking human anatomy, his- & He passed his MSc in 1954 with a first class, again taking human anatomy. pointed professor of anatomy in 1948. In 1960, the state government sent him on a scholarship to Oxford Univer ­ sity in the UK where he worked under Using colored chalk and a few graceful The GMC museum was probably the sweeps of his hands, he would add a few best in Asia during his tenure and Sethna lines here, rub off a few lines there, and along with the late Dr Firoze Dastur had layer upon layer and structure upon the lion ’s share in making the museum structure ofany anatomical region would a reality. be revealed till, at the end of the lecture, he would have presented an entire re ­ gion as well and as completely as an actual dissection would show. His students ’ admira ­ tion and awe were apparent: they would be loath to rub out the chalk drawings for days on end. The hallmark of the late Dr Bomi Burjorjee Sethna ’s career was his remarkable Setlina: strict yet success as a teacher coupled fair in academics with his striking simplicity as a person. As professor of anatomy, S'ethna ’s proficiency and excellence joined GMC from where he passed his stand unrivalled. With his methodical MBBS in 1941, earning a gold medal, approach and lucid explanations, the He did his medicine and surgical house subject became easy to grasp. A few postsin 1942-43 and joined as a demon ­ lines written down in the class as he spoke served as adequate foundation for any further reading. Thousands of his students spread all over the world, some of them honoraries in major hospitals, will vouch that in Sethna who died on June 29, 1998 we tology and embryology as his subjects, did not just have a tall man but a tall teacher, a towering personality who looked upon all as his equals. He was embryology and comparative anatom/ strict yet fair in academics, gentle and along with anthropology. He was ap- soft-spoken and ever so kind and cour ­ teous. He served as undergraduate and post ­ graduate examiner in several universi ­ ties all over the country. His just and Prof Le Gros Clark in neuroanatomy understanding nature inspired confi- and embryology. When he returned, the dence amongst candidates as a result of government appointed him Dean of the which the fear of examinations was Miraj Medical College to establish it actually replaced by attempts at better from scratch. The institution ’s reputa- performance. tion is in no small measure due to his Sethna ’s dedication towards anatomy dedication and hard work in the years is reflected in the magnificent muse- he headed it. A man ’s value can truly be urns at the Grant Medical College judged by what he has to offer the (GMC) and the Miraj Medical College, world.HISTORY Treasured on the Island - 3 Monumental mark In public service and government institutions Sri Lankan Zoroastrians left their indelible imprint The coffee estate and exports of Colombo Municipality, states the fourth Cowasjee Eduljee Colombowalla instalment. Even though the Maharaja followed Banajee to Ceylon to per ­ suade him to return, Banajee ’s wife would not allow it for one of his duties was to taste the food before it was served to the Maharaja which she felt could endanger his life. The legal used a part of it to donate a burial ground for Parsis in Colombo, men ­ tioned the second instalment. (This old Kaikhushroo Choksy who was ap ­ pointed King ’s Counsel and his son Kairshasp who officiates as President ’s credit for making possible the influx of many Parsis from India. The Khan Clock Counsel. The Prayer Hall and priest ’s residence known as Navroz Baug were constructed by Meherbai who was keen to fulfil her husband PallonjeeNowrojee Kapadia ’s dream project. The Parasmani Hall which is in use by the Parsi Sports Club was the com ­ bined effort of Framroze Rustomjee Parsis every Sunday, it was recounted. The rags to riches story of Rustomjee Muncherjee who had assiduously toiled who donated the land and Ruttonshah to build up his business empire and invariably presided over every meeting of the community is related in this third Rustomjee who bore the cost of con ­ struction, it is explained in the fifth instalment. As per Ruttonshah ’s last will, every year the community is in ­ vited to a dinner at the Navroz Baug on a date close to his death anniversary. The academician Kaikhushroo Billimo- (the previous incumbents being ria, who as principal of the Dharmaraja After being shipwrecked in the turbu ­ lent waters of the Indian Ocean a hand ­ ful of Parsis landed in Ceylon in the earned him substantial wealth and he early 17th century. In the 18th century, some adventurous Parsis had sought to establish themselves on this beautiful island as planters and shopkeepers. By burial ground in Kottanchina was in use the 19th century the community was so prior to the present one on Jawatte well respected that on the formation of Road, acquired for the community by fraternity ’s claim to fame was Nariman the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Pestonjee Dinshawjee Khan.) To Fram- 1839, Hormusjee Espandiarjee and jee Bhikhajee and Company goes the Shapoorjie Hirji were the only two non ­ English members invited thereon. At the beginning of the 20th century Tower and the Crippled Children ’s Zoroastrians in Ceylon numbered less Ward bear testimony to their largesse, than a hundred, reaching their peak of Framjee House was the venue for all over 350 prior to World War II. Then Parsi festivities and it was also custom- followed the exodus and today around ary to have an “open house ” for all 60 Zoroastrians remain in Sri Lanka (see “The Zoroastrians of Serendip, ” Parsiana, January 1999). Starting with the July-August issue, Parsiana is chronicling the achieve ­ ments of prominent Sri Lankan Zoroas ­ trians of the 19th and the 20th century, instalment. Among the leading profes- These are edited excerpts from Behram Kaikhushroo Billimoria ’s historical compilation. The Par sees in Ceylon, distinction ofserving as the first Ceylo- culled from the memoirs of Framroze nese ( . Rustomjee and K. D. Choksy. Written English) chief architect of the public College was responsible for building up about nine years ago, factually there may be a change of circumstances for some of the individuals mentioned served the King during World War I herein although we have imposed on Sri Lanka ’s respected legal light Kairshasp Choksy ’s time to check the episodes for accuracy. The first instalment detailed the sue- Majestic Theatres and Navroz Baug. have persuaded them to settle in other cess story of Dady Muncherji also known As superintendent of the Leper Asylum lands. But their accomplishments are as Dady Parsi who was a merchant held in Hendala, Pestonjee played host to the fondly recalled in the final episode of in high esteem by the locals as also the Europeans who patronized his shops, they gathered there to celebrate the Transport facilities too came within his purview in the early 19th century and there are references to his establish ­ ment running the palanquin facilities for the convenience of passengers. sionals of the 20th century were Homi Framroze Billimoria who enjoyed the works department of the government the center of learning into a reputed and Dr Rustom Pestonjee who had institute, was always happy to host Parsi ¦ visitors to Kandy as theirs was the only Zoroastrian family resident there. Many other outstanding Parsis have their roots in Ceylon. Professional , busi- and returned with distinctions in war service. Some of the imposing struc ­ tures erected by Billimoria are the Inde ­ pendence Hall, The Elphinstone and ness and/or family commitments may Majestic Theatres and Navroz Baug. in Hendala, Pestonjee played host to the Parsi community every Christmas when this treatise on Sri Lankan Zoroastri ­ ans. occasion with the patients. ••• Another revered medical practitio- In 1860 there arrived in Colombo a nerwasDrDadabhoyPestonjeeBanajee young man of the age of 15 years — who had served the Maharaja of Morvi Rustomjee Muncherjee. As a boy of before being appointed member of the nine, he had left Bombay without in- 45 Parsiana October 1999k ---838^ - j ; X MH ' J I-'* !» iS forming his parents or relatives and proceeded on a schooner to Aden prom ­ ising to work for his passage. He re ­ mained in Aden for three years working for the well established Parsi firm of business. His probity of character, hon ­ esty and integrity became known in Pettah of Colombo. ¦ Rustomjee Muncherjee by I a decree of the District Court I of Colombo, confirmed by I the Supreme Court, was ap- I pointed a trustee ofthe Ceylon ¦ Parsi Anj uman Properties and I Funds along with Jamshedjee I Rustomjee, Justice of Peace I (JP), for the western prov- I ince, and Jehangirjee Kai- I khushroo Hormusjee, a mem- I ber of the Municipal Council I of Colombo. By common ac- I claimoftheentireParsicom- " munity of Ceylon, Rustomjee Muncheijee, who was then the oldest member of the community in Ceylon and had always presided over ev ­ ery meeting and function of the community, was regarded and known as the president of the Ceylon Parsi Anjuman. He served as trustee and president until the day of his death in 1929 at the age of 84 years. The first Ceylonese to graduate from the Liverpool University with an honors degree in architecture ob- ¦“ taining distinctions in design was Homi Framroze Billimoria. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Insti ­ tute of British Architects. On his return to the island he joined the Public Works made a great name for himself and the for flour and other imports to his equally ” "" ' honest and most helpful business friend and companion Pallonjee Nowrojee Parsis in Ceylon as one of the enterpris ­ ing businessmen of Colombo. He toiled strenuously to build up his Kapadia who had a similar business established in Fourth Cross Street in the Adenwalla. When he arrived in Co ­ lombo in 1860, he had brought a letter of recom- mendation from the Aden- walla firm as a hardy young boy capable of undertaking any honest job or work. This letter was addressed to FramjeeBhikhajeeandCom- H^H pany and Dinshawjee Khan took a fancy for this boy and employed him in the firm on a meager monthly salary of Rs 15 with all food. He was given an allowance for cloth ­ ing and shelter was provided at the firm. This proved an excellent home for the boy Rustom, as he was then called, and he did his duties wholeheartedly. During his off hours he was sent on errands involv ­ ing responsibility for the han ­ dling of cash and his sincerity of purpose and his willing ­ ness to please any member of the staff of this firm earned him a great name. Dinshawjee requested him to spend three hours a day in a nearby school to enable him to read and write English. This school was the Royal Academy (later Royal Exterior and interior of Navroz Baug College). Dinshawjee then put him onto the job of rubber-stamping the receipts Colombo. His shop used to be beseiged for the purchase of the purest ingredi ­ ents he put up for sale. A prominent Department (PWD) of the Government section of his business was the import fe mIH I of payment of bills after due verifica ­ tion. He proceeded from strength to strength. Dinshawjee was keen to see section of his business was the import as a temporary assistant architect but that he understood every segment of the and sale of gold and silver thread. The unfortunately his services were termi- business from letter-writing to making material he sold was of the highest nated in October 1931 owing to re- out orders for goods. - When Rustom was 20 years of age he appealed to Dinshawjee to permit him to go to Kandy to work with a textile business. Dinshawjee was most unwill ­ ing to part with Rustom but as he did not wish to spoil the boy ’s future chances, he allowed him to go. However Din- _ shawjee placed a sum of Rs 500 in his Bombay in 1869 where he married. He the Majestic Theatre and Navroz Baug. establishment to the credit of young 1* . ’ ' ' " ’ ’ ..1.1 -- - - Rustom as a gratuity and requested him I' , to draw on it whenever he needed money, had five sons and a daughter, named After a few years in Kandy Rustom Hormusjee, Dr Munchershaw, Darab- decided to return to Colombo where he started his first, own, independent busi ­ ness of oil stores. Rustomjee Muncherjee material he sold was of the highest quality at one fixed price. Among his trenchment during the depression. He- constituents were the nuns of the many then set up a private practice having convents in Ceylon. His price for all the been elected a Fellow of the Royal ... ....... ' Institute of British Architects. He es ­ tablished the firm of Billimoria and De Silva and they were responsible for commodities in his shop was always fixed. No one ventured to bargain with him for any article he sold. He also imported large stocks of flour from many of the well-known buildings in Bombay and Australia. He left for Colombo like the Elphinstone Theatre, He built a large number of private bun- then set up his home in Colombo with He built a large number of private bun- his wife Jerbai (nee Netterwalla). He galows, too numerous to enumerate, among which was Mumtaz Mahal — a luxurious residence facing the sea at Shaw, Dr Maneckshaw, Framroze and Colpetty which is now the residence of Avabai. He retired from business in the the Speaker ofthe Parliament. In March year 1914. He gave over his agencies 1936 he was recalled by the Govern- 46 Parsiana October 1999The book Twentieth Century Impres- was his never-failing friendship and courteous manner towards all, and his sions of Ceylon edited by Wright and “Truly, in the words of the director PWD in honor of the lost one), ‘The late bread, and possess the only electrically Mr Billimoria was a gentleman and a driven machine for the manufacture of biscuits in the island, the latter comes ­ tibles being turned out in many shapes, varieties and sizes. The bread, made by hand, not only has an extensive local sale, but is also supplied to far up- country districts. Large contracts are also held with the various local steve ­ dores and ship chandlers for the supply of bread to the shipping of Colombo. Messrs Rustomjee and Company are noted for their catering for weddings and entertainments of all kinds, wed- ideal was peace, and he was a man in a ding cakes being a speciality of the million... ” In the year 1875 Limjeebhoy and Dr Pestonjee was stoned by a mob. One stone hit him on the forehead and drew blood ment and having acted as chief archi ­ tect on numerous occasions between 1938 and 1951 was finally confirmed in preparedness to assist anyone, even published in 1907 has this to say on the office of chief architect in 1953 people he had never met before, who pages 502 and 503 about Rustomjee which appointment he held until his cametohim with their problems whether and Company: “The firm of Rustomjee premature demise in 1956. He had the they were official or personal. and Company, bakers and confection ­ distinction of being the very first “Truly, in the words of the director ers... are well-known manufacturers of Ceylonese (and Parsi) to be appointed of Public Works (at an assembly of the all kinds of biscuits, confectionery and chief architect of the PWD — all the previous holders of that office being Englishmen. The work that earned him the highest There was a mutiny fame was the Independence Hall built when Ceylon gained Dominion Status in the year 1947. He was also the one who designed the Bandaranaike Memo ­ rial Ward at the General Hospital and in 1952 he was conferred the honor of MBE (Member of the British Empire). Later in recognition of all his numerous services. Queen Elizabeth II created him an officer of the Excellent Order of the clean man — clean inside and out. His British Empire (OBE) in the year 1954. Earlier he had received the Coronation million... ” firm’s manufacture. They are also bak- Medal. He married Munnie, the eldest In the year 1875 Limjeebhoy ers and confectioners to the governor of daughter of Pirisha and Dinbai Karanjia Pestonjee Billimoria came from Bom- Ceylon. Altogether the firm employs and they had three children, named bay tojoin the firm of Cowasjee Eduljee from 80 to 100 employees. Besides the Veera, Jamshed and Pheroze. Gazdar and Company, rice merchants central factory in the Fort, the firm has a branch at Rifle Street in the Slave Gazdar and Company, rice merchants He was one of the most hard working of Colombo. Limjeebhoy later acquired servants of the Crown and the whole of a bakery from Rustomjee Muncherjee Island quarter of the city. The whole Colombo and all his friends in the out- and Company and carried on a business concern is under the managing direc ­ stations were shocked to hear of his sad and untimely demise on June 10, 1956 at the age of 54 years. Homi had estab ­ lished a memorable record of work in Ceylon and his popularity among all classes of people in the island was mani ­ fested at his funeral which was attended by the governor-general and all the later by Limjeebhoy to his son-in-law dignitaries of Ceylon in addition to an Cawasjee Merwanjee Nilgiria who ran unprecedented large gathering of his the business for many years. On the Limjeebhoy Pestonjee Billimoria. He numerous friends and admirers. An ap- death of Limjeebhoy in 1899, Nilgiria was born in 1867. After his arrival in predation of him appeared in the Times also took over the business of Rustomjee Ceylon he attended Wesley College in of Ceylon. and Company which had by then been Colombo, where he distinguished him- “MondayJune 11,1956, will be long named the Ceylon Bakery. selfinscience.HethenjoinedtheCeylon remembered as a ‘black Monday ’ in the Nilgiria was one of the most ener- Medical College and obtained his quali- annals of the Public Works Depart ­ ment, for we woke up to the rude shock of the news of the sudden and untimely in Ceylon. For many years after the death of Homi F. Billimoria, chief ar ­ chitect, which had occurred in the early hours of that morning. “Homi ’s affable manner was ex ­ tended to everyone —Christian or Hindu the Ceylon Parsi Anjuman Trust. Ill during World War I, leaving Ceylon in requiring his expert advice on their health compelled Nilgiria to leave 1915 and returning in 1918 after having building projects. “Every government official received from him the highest cooperation and attention ungrudgingly at all time, de ­ spite the fact that he was one of the heartedly managed by him. The busi- busiest officers. “The outstanding feature of his life and Company and carried on a business as bakers and confectioners in Chatham torship of Cawasjee Nilgiria, who was Street, Fort, Colombo under the name born at Ootacamund, Madras, was edu- of Rustomjee and Company. He later entered the business of the Brittania Restaurant at the corner of York Street and Chatham Street. The business of and Confectioners of England and Ire- Brittania Restaurant was handed over cated in India and came to Ceylon in the year 1896. He is a member of the Na ­ tional Association of Master Bakers land. ” In the year 1875 there came to Ceylon Rustom Pestonjee along with brother Nilgiria was one of the most ener ­ getic, popular and singularly interested fication as adoctor. Thereafter he joined' members of the entire Parsi community government service and served in vari ­ ous hospitals throughout the island. He death of Pallonjee Kapadia he func- later obtained British qualifications and tioned as the secretary of the Ceylon was appointed superintendent of the Parsee Anjuman Trust. He was of the General Hospital in Colombo in or about utmost assistance to all the trustees of 1907. Dr Pestonjee served the King ness of the Ceylon Bakery was handed over to his sons Dady and Lim. health compelled Nilgiria to leave Ceylon for treatment and he died shortly obtained distinctions in war service. He thereafter in Bombay in 1944. His death was appointed superintendent of the was a severe blow to the whole Parsi Leper Asylum in Hendala where he community whose affairs were whole- worked devotedly among the lepers and distinguished himself for his memo ­ rable service for over 20 years. On his retirement from the Leper Asylum his 48 Parsiana October 1999portrait was unveiled there. Dr Pestonjee ’s brother, Limjeebhoy Pestonjee Billimoria, had financed his education throughout and was greatly devoted to this brother. Dr Pestonjee on Hercules clearing the Augean stables, retirement lived in Wellawatte and de- He put a strong guard at the gate to stop voted himself to music. He was a bril- free passage through it. He cleared away liant violinist and was a member of the all the fireplaces on the verandahs. He Philharmonic Orchestra of Colombo. He also served as a trustee of the result was gambling and drunken riots with the poor old superintendent shiv ­ ering in his shoes. “Dr Pestonjee faced a task like that of stopped the giving of cash, kept an account of what was due to each person Ceylon Parsi Anjuman Funds from 1939 to 1944 and took a princi ­ pal part in all matters connected with the Parsis in Ceylon till his death in 1951 at the ripe old age of 84 years. In addition to his accom ­ plishment as a violinist Dr Pestonjee was a great “I have never met a man who thought less of money or more of honorable conduct” and once a week the bul ­ lock cart of a Muslim trader came into the ground like Santa Claus with sweets, soap, ciga ­ rettes, Jaffna cigars, col ­ ored handkerchiefs, sa ­ rongs and saris — in a word with all one ’s heart could desire and each pa ­ tient had a little card stat- ing how much he or she could spend. “But the thugs and rowdies were not tendent, as a precautionary measure, is an unofficial magistrate with the “The majority of the inmates being were pleased with the reforms and the strictness of the regulations and the Eden. ” In those days the Parsi community used to organize an annual Christmas treat for the patients and all the mem- lover of Indian music and was able to play the sitar and dilruba to perfection. He was also a keen astronomer and had pleased. There was a mutiny and Dr a powerful telescope with which he Pestonjee was stoned by a mob. One hit used to scan the heavens. him on the forehead and drew blood. In Science of a Lifetime published The police quickly restored order and in 1967 savant Dr Lucian de Zilva arrested the ringleaders. Every superin- wrote: “Dr Pestonjee, a Parsi, was a tall, athletic man, an officer in the Ceylon Army of Volunteers. I have right to imprison those convicted of never met a man who thought less of violence. money or more of honorable con ­ duct. He was satisfied with his pay quiet and law-abiding men and women which gave him sufficient leisure for philosophy and music... He was one of the first violinists in the Colombo Leper Asylum became a Garden of Symphony Orchestra. I used to visit him almost every Sunday at his bun ­ galow overlooking the sea and river. The windows overlooking the sea had broad sills and I usually found bers of the community used to go there him sitting cross-legged there play- and spend the day as the guests of the ing the violin or the dilruba. His good doctor. When the Great War of predecessor had been too old and feeble to call to order some of the able-bodied men who did just as they liked; lepers went out of the gate into the village and had food in the bou ­ tiques. They grew vegetables between the war front, he was posted to the the wards at the asylum which stood Forces Hospital at Marseilles where the . in a park of many acres. Not liking Indian Army wounded were hospital- the food supplied from the hospital ized. At the end of the War he attained kitchen, they cooked their meals on the rank of Major and also earned the the verandahs of the wards on fire ­ places of three stones. Worst of all was the gambling and the fights. The good work among his patients till he coconut, jak and other trees on the finally retired in 1929, much to the grounds yielded an income which regret of all those patients. He lived in was divided among the inmates, a 42nd Lane, Wellawatte after retirement stupid thing to have done when they till he passed away in 1951 aged 85 could not go out and spend it. The years. To be continued 1914-1918 broke out. Dr Pestonjee was a member of the Ceylon Light Infantry and readily volunteered for war ser ­ vice. He was accepted and although it was his desire to see active service on War Service Medal among others. He then returned to Hendala to carry on the 49 Parsiana October 1999 MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited from educated, good-looking Zarathushtrian girls of respectable families, for two young Zarathushtrian boys of 28 and 27 years respechVefy. Boih boys ace 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 (Oct/25-99)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. Put your travel plans in top gear Mr Neville Mistry C/42, Cusrow Baug Shahid Bhagat Singh Road Bombay 400039 Tel: (D) 2822605, 2826120 Fax: 3635121 Mobile: 9821092927 9821117914 Personal sale of Authentic Parsi garas, silver, gold and jari borders Contact: 2833078, 2873373BOOKS This damn pain... Arnavaz S. Mama Celebration of the Cells: Letters from a cancer and ways of coping with the fear/apa- survivor by Russi M. Lala. Published in 1999 thy/depression that result from the treat- by Viking-Penguin Books India (P) Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017. Pp: viii+1 68. Price: Rs 295. social life. Everytime he has exhausted himself he has had to pay the price in ment by chemotherapy which affects terms of pain and discomfort. Quoting the body ’s cancerous and healthy cells alike. Work and relaxation, walking, music, deep breathing, laughter are other disease all the time. The moment it gets “To recognize that life is larger than therapies he recommends. “Do not re- tired, the body stops fighting and the cancer — an annoying distraction (from sist the drugs as they are being injected disease gets the upper hand. That is why ... into the veins. Welcome if you can work for 10 hours, stop after them as your saviors. Breathe eight hours. ” But gentle exercise like deeply and relax. Imagine the walking has done good. Similarly a medicine going into your sys­ tem, targeting the cancer cells and immobilizing them, ” ad ­ vises Lala. Nausea, mouth ulcers, cramps, loss of hair, numbness and emotional disequilibrium cancer specialist Dr Purvesh Parikh, Lala writes, “Your body is fighting the change of diet is recommended, veer ­ ing away from red meats towards fish, fruit and vegetables. Lala ’s letters bring to the fore the uncertainty that underlies the life of a cancer patient. “I often think what a waste of time this disease is. Today a chemotherapy. Since it under ­ mines the immune system it is easy for the patient to fall prey to chills and hangs like a sword of Damocles. When pneumonia. The Dalai Lama ’s personalyou are not, it tends to preoccupy you. ” Through 10 roller coaster years Lala ’s job as director of Sir Dorab Tata wears a scarf round his neck. Referring Trust has beckoned him like a light ­ house; his longstanding commitment to writing has been a lifeline through his “little lymphatic world. ” He was in the “When you retch, don ’t turn to the left side. The retching gets aggravated. Lie throes of writing Beyond the Last Blue flat or, if you must, turn to the right. ” Advising cancer patients to face re­ accomplishing anything worth ­ while). I treated it as a nui ­ sance. And yet this nuisance has taught me things, altered my life and brought me closer to God — day by day, hour by hour. A thousand sermons could not have done what these ren ­ egade cells have in my life. ” The thought that Russi Lala Lala: triumph- recorded in London on July 5, ing over cancer are some of the side effects of blood test, tomorrow the doctors, then 1995, en route to New York for chemotherapy. Since it under- more tests and to consider the treatment consultations on his resurgent non- mines the immune system it is easy for and take it... When you are well, it Hodgkin ’s Lymphoma (NHL) encap ­ sulates much that he has to say in Cel­ ebration of the Cells. Couched as a physician advises cancer patients to series of letters to Vandana Gupta, a keep warm, notes Lala who generally middle-aged wife and mother similarly ' " '' ' “ undergoing chemotherapy for to the endless nausea that is the chemo- Hodgkin ’s Lymphoma (Gupta came therapy patient ’s lot, Lala advises, through to found V-Care, an emotional support group for cancer patients and their relatives), Lala ’s 168-page book focuses on the mental conflicts and physical disturbances in the life of a ality, Lala suggests they make their cancer patient and how these are best resolved by recourse to faith, prayer and a purposeful belief in life. Cancer was first identified around spiritual inputs... Most im- 400 BC during the time of Hippocrates, notes Lala. “Cancer cells have been found in an Egyptian mummy, ” he writes. He identifies the Royal Marsden cording his gratitude for Hospital built at the end of the 19th century in London as the world ’s first cancer hospital. Surgery, where pos ­ sible, was the initial line of treatment, followed by radiotherapy resulting from function as normally as Dr Marie Curie ’s research. Chemo ­ therapy came into use from the 1960s. Lala refers to the many types of sible grow spiritually, ” cancer, their causes, the dietary and other changes in lifestyle that are neces ­ sitated by the occurrence of the disease Mountain, a biography of J. R. D. Tata, when he first realized he had been smit ­ ten in 1989. Completing it had been the goal he had set himself. It stressed him and added to the buoyancy of the NHL will, put their finances in order and, even more importantly, set awry rela ­ tionships straight. “In life one needs but when it was published in 1992 he - n could thank God and go back to chemotherapy with ^1 a mind at ease, earning a three-year reprieve. “This damn pain... ” he Bl grumbled in July 1995. m Through the resurgence of Sy the disease he held on for fl Freny ’s sake but found “her anxiety complex... heavy Bb to bear ” — an insight that fl could help all caregivers of cancer patients. The Joy of BE Achievement: Conversa­ ble tions with J. R. D. Tata ¦¦ came out that same month. portant is the love, affec ­ tion and care of at least one person... ” writes Lala, re- the love and care lavished on him by his wife Freny. Reordering his own priori ­ ties so as to continue “to possible physically, be at peace mentally and if pos- Lala has found it crucial to take adequate rest even, if need be, to the exclusion of 50 Parsiana October 1999of her husband Homiar and her parents- in-law, but more importantly according is given a sum ofRs 40,000 every year for to her “the constant blessings and guid ­ education and lodging and boarding ex- ance of God, in front of which the power penses of young Parsi priests. A number and glory of science are insignificant of poor Parsi families in Bombay and and trivial. ” ErvadPERVEZM. bajan munity in rural areas for education, foodgrain, religious ceremonies, etc. The self-effacing, publicity-shun ­ ning Siganporia, in spite of being in her 80s, is still involved in this community ll^ somely responded to her appeals year after year for help to the less fortunate ones amongst us Parsis, yet much needs to be done and a greater effort is needed to reach out to as many members of the community and as adequately as pos ­ sible. The Zoroastrian Ladies Commit ­ tee singularly deserves our utmost sup ­ port to further strengthen their philan- College of Commerce. ” As there were no commerce or man ­ agement examinations in India, he used to take batches of students to England by boat to appear for the examinations con ­ P. D. BHADHA We congratulate Parizad Homiar Pestonjamasp (nee Parizad Tehmurasp ducted by the London Chamber of Com- Sidhwa) on obtaining a PhD in Life merce. International Accountants, Incor- Sciences from the University of Mum- porated Company Secretaries, etc. Later bai. She earned the doctorate for her he managed to persuade those bodies to research on breast cancer. conduct their examinations in India for She has won various proficiency those who could not afford to go abroad. awards including National Merit Schol- He was riding emotionally high, READERS’ FORUM physically low. “Is it possible that love, continued from page 4 hope, faith and laughter and the will to live have a therapeutic value? ” editor and author Norman Cousins had ques ­ tioned. Lala ’s life has affirmed it. In Part II of the book we learn of also in rural south Gujarat are given Lala ’s spiritual odyssey from belief to monthly help. A sum of Rs 1,00,000 is ‘^TllC Top Ten” atheism,anagnostic ’syearningforproof spent annually on the needy in the com- I feel that my father, the late Prof Sohrab and the rekindling of faith through the munity in rural areas for education, R. Davar who is considered the pioneer Moral Re-Armament movement. As a foodgrain, religious ceremonies, etc. of commerce and management educa- result Lala comes through as a strong The self-effacing, publicity-shun- tion in India, should proponent of Christian literature quot- ning Siganporia, in spite of being in her be included among ing proficiently from the Psalms and 80s, is still involved in this community the outstanding Zo- other devotional literature. Although service, as if it was her life ’s mission. roastrian greats, he had a Zoroastrian mobed praying by Although the community has very hand- When there was his bedside when he underwent his first somely responded to her appeals year J no commerce or chemotherapy in Bombay (“when my after year for help to the less fortunate management edu ­ boat is small and the sea is stormy, I ones amongst us Parsis, yet much needs jHbk cation in India Prof need the strength that comes from a to be done and a greater effort is needed UB Davar established power higher than my own ”), his inspi- to reach out to as many members of the Davar: promoted in 1900, when he ration stems as much from Beethoven community and as adequately as pos- higher education was only 20 years (“It is not what happened to Beethoven sible. The Zoroastrian Ladies Commit- old, the first col ­ that mattered. It is how he took it. In tee singularly deserves our utmost sup- lege of commerce in India, “Davar ’s adversity he was free to be creative ”), Albert Schweitzer or Father M. M. thropic endeavors. Balaguer, a Jesuit and former principal of St Xavier ’s College, who had told Distinctive doctoratc him “Prayer is communion with God. It can be done in any of the three ways. The first is when you speak to God. The second is you may speak but you also wait to listen to what He has to say. It is a two-way communication. The third is silent communion. You say nothing and yet feel close to each other. ” awards including National Merit Schol- Thirteen years later he helped to Along his seven decades of exist- arships from the University of Mumbai, establish the Sydenham College of Com- ence Lala has learnt to value a quiet twice, for securing a position in the merce and held the Chair for Mercantile time for himself and his thoughts at the merit list. She was awarded the presti- Law and Business Organization at the start of the day. Noting these along the giousDaxina fellowship of the Institute Bombay University, and taught these years, Lala has drawn upon them in his hours of need, even as he freely ac ­ knowledges cherished quotations. In the rambling latter chapters Lala relates stories of spiritual healing. In the chap ­ ter “Facing Death ” he examines the two aspects of the phenomenon: coping with the passing of a dear one and facing it oneself. “This life is given to you by God and it is only He who has the right Pestonjamasp: League for a continu- Member of the Legislative Council and to withdraw it, ” Lala makes his stand on won awards ous period of 12 years, a Justice of Peace, he was also a Mem ­ euthanasia known without naming it. She participated in ber of the Municipal Council and was “Each person has a legacy to leave behind, ” writes Lala, “each person has the choice to be a power for good, an instrument for the betterment of the world in his own sphere. “There are moments when we want to go but many many more when we want to live on. So learn to live as if each day is your last. And then there are no regrets unfailing and sustained support and and every relationship is put right. ” encouragementofherparents, and lately Edited by Parinaz M. Gandhi of Science for the highest rank in MSC- subjects at the Sydenham College for I (Biochemistry). nine years. His were the first and only An ardent student books published (by Butterworths) in of Zoroastrian reli- those subjects, gious scriptures, she took an active part in various religious competitions con ­ ducted by the Iran Presiding over the first Bombay Leg ­ islative Council when it was set up in Poona, he announced the name of Mr Pakvasa as president of the Council. Besides being a barrister-at-law, a won awards elocution, essay-writing, Shah Nameh asked to be the mayor, which he de ­ recital, Parsi songs and monajats, and dined due to ill health. He passed away other events. Her style of presentation, at the age of 70. in-depth study of the subject matter, and oratory invariably won her first Davar ’s government recognized Davar ’s prizes. She also gave religious lectures College of Commerce is now 99 years at agiaries. Behind Parizad ’s success lies the centenary. Founder principal Prof Sohrab R. oid and in a few months will attain its Dr KHORSHED D, P, MADON 52 Parsiana October 1999 IMILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as of the liver and brain and bron- listed in this issue) ranged be- tween 25 and 37 years, the arith ­ metic mean (the total number of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being Among the isolated cases were 31 years. The corresponding fig ­ ures for the grooms were 29 and 40 years, averaging at 34 years. Births numbered 13 and deaths 62 in Bombay for the month of August. Heart disease took a toll of 19 lives of whom 11 were 80 years and above. Nine victims fell prey to cancer and five each to pneumonia/lung and 93 years. The Zoroastrian disease and septicemia. Diseases BARODA BORN A girl, Zinatra, to Hutoxi and Jarsis Bonesetter, sister to Mahzarine on August 2, 1999 BOMBAY BORN A girl to Sarvar and Rohinton Jaorewalla-, August 8 A girl to Farzana and Adil Dastoor, August 12 A girl to Parizad and Rohinton Bandorawalla; August 14 A girl to Zareen and Jimmy Patelh, August 16 A girl to Kashmira and Burjis Mistry, August 17 A girl to Ayesha and Neville Mody, August 18 A boy to Shirin and Rohinton Wadia', August 19 A boy to Ayesha and Darius Soonawalla', August 22 A girl to Khushnam and Rohin­ ton Polishwala', August 27 A boy to Yasmin and Navzer Sarkary, August 27 A girl to Jasmine and Pervaz Daruwalla', August 30 A girl to Anahita and Aadil Elavia', August 30 A girl to Suneeta and Manu Narula', August 30 MARRIED . Meher Farokh Vasania and Adil Dinyar Sutaria of Middlesex, UK; August 3 Shernaz Jal Ghadially and Hector Nariman Daruwala\ August 29 DIED Noshir Sorabji Gabla (66), residing at 7, Belvedere Court, Opp Oval Maidan, Churchgate, 400020; July 31 Eruchshaw Ardeshir General 53 Parsiana October 1999 chitis claimed three Zoroastri ­ ans each whereas two patients each succumbed to old age/gen- eral debility and dehydration. AIDS, urinary tract infection, malaria, arthritis, cerebral ma ­ laria, diabetic gangrene, diabe ­ tes, sclerosis (abnormal harden ­ ing of a tissue), kidney failure, jaundice and fever. Two still ­ born babies, a girl and a boy, were lost to the community. The age range fluctuated between 43 private nursing homes are not included unless individuals send us information together with a life expectancy at birth for Au- (85), 20/51, New Contractor Bldg, Victoria Garden Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 31 Minoo (Minocher) Hormusji Adajania (78), B/8, Shiv Krupa, Kulupwadi Rd, Borivli (E), 400066; August 1 Shirin Merwan Irani (85), Safalya Ahimsa Marg, Khar, 400050; August 1 Noshir Gustadji Olpadwalla (69), Talati Bldg, 194, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; August 1 Eruch Dadabhai Adenwalla (93), Automobile Company Bldg, 41, Queens Rd, 400020; August 2 Freny Kaikhushroo Batliwalla (60), Dubash Bldg, Kashinath Rd, 400034; August 2 Jer Hoshang Doctor (85), A/4, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 2 Jal Sorabji Mehta (89), N/26, Sector 7, Vashi, New Bombay, 400703; August 2 Darayus Jehangir Mistry (45), T/24, Godrej Baug, Napean Sea Rd, 400026; August 2 Adi Jalbhoy Paymaster (60), 11, Batliwalla Bldg, Khan Est, M. M. C. Marg, Mahim, 400016; August 2 Beheram Sorabji Dadachanji (61), 401/7, Tulsidham Co-op Hsg Soc, Manpada, Thana, 400601; August 3 CooverjiDhanjishaw Daruwalla Ratanshaw Rustomji Porebun- 182), 102, Dhanraj Bldg, Vishal Ngr, Mithchowki, Marve, Malad (W), 400064; August 3 Homi Burjorjee Satpatiwala (70), Sheri Hse, Gunbow St, Fort, 400001; August 3 Burjorji Jamshedji Elavia (87), P/16, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; August 4 gust, in Bombay, was 73 years. The data on births, maniages and deaths has been compiled of names in the marriage list from information supplied by when a civil marriage precedes a various newsletters and anju- mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con ­ sistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anju- mans do not furnish the particu- marriages/deaths they would like lars; the birth figures for Bombay published, some proof to ensure are supplied by four hospitals — the veracity of the report would births in suburban hospitals and be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. Mehru Dinshaw Jassawalla (82), 796, Dosabhai Mans, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 4 Rustom Ratansha Mistry (80), P/4, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; August 4 Nergish Minoo Tumboli (73), M/11, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 4 Dinshaw Maneckji Cooper (88), 515/C, Meher Mans, R. P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; August 5 Ruttonshaw Nanabhoy (82), Jer Mans, 70, August Kranti Marg, 400036; August 5 Dosibai Jehangirji Patel (88), 275/U, New Master Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; August 5 Khorshed Pirosha Sakhidas (69), C/0 P. P. Kharas, A/19, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; August 5 Jimmy Munchershaw Fitter (58), P/10, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; August 6 Nergish Keki Kermani (58), 20/133, Petit Widows ’ Chawl, Mody St, Fort, 4(X)001; August 7 Cavas Jehangir Fatakia (84), 4/26, Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; August 8 Shiavax Peshotan Kotwal (87), Jaiphal Ter, 29, Forjett St, 400036; August 8 derwala (82), G/27, Munsiff Bldg, Tardeo, 400034; August 8 400004; August 18 Behram Sohrabji Katrak (87), Nusserwanji Bldg, Alibhai Premji Marg, Grant Rd, 400007; August 10 Merwan Rashid Khosravi (78), Tyre Ter, Dr D. B. Marg, 400007; August 10 Sorab Dhunjishaw Ghandhi copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition religious ceremony. In the break ­ up of deaths according to ill ­ nesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combina ­ tion of several diseases. If readers have any births/ (61), 640/B, Khorshed Villa, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 11 Pilamai Jamshedji Painter (76), 1/11, Dhunbaiwadi, Dadabhai Rd, Vile Parle (W), 400056; August 11 Jimmy Rustomji Batiwalla (58), B/1, Shireen Mans, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 40(X)07; August 12 Rashid Behram Jubani (66), Room no 18, Sidhwa Bldg, 14/A, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; August 12 Burjor Cursetji Reporter (87), Meherwan Mans, 59, Napean Sea Rd, 400006; August 12 Zersis Kaikhushru Toorkey (43), 5/A/l, Park Darshan, Opp Lallubhai Park, Andheri (W), 400058; August 12 Shirinbai Dhanjishaw Bhagwagar (92), C/o Perin Hansotia, B/15, Sagar Sangeet, Colaba Post Office, 400005; August 14'' Pestonji Jehangirji Darukha- nawala (88), 2/B, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; August 15 Roshan Nariman Wadia (55), Gul Manor, Opp Telephone Bhavan, Colaba, 400005; August 15 Goola Nariman Chowdhry (87), 2, St Helen ’s Court, Redder Rd, 400026; August 17 Dina Khurshed Arjani (79), F/18, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, Phiroze Hormusji Pithawala 33, West Minister, Duncan Causeway, Sion, 400022; August 18 Maneck Ruttonji Kapadia (86), 77, Jehangir Mans, Opp Sukh Sagar, Hughes Rd, 400007; August 19Rustomji Ardeshir Chinoy (85), Room no 19, X/ 96, Godrej Clny, Stn Side, Vikhroli (E), 400079; August 20 Baby boy of Khurshid Jehangir Mistry (stillborn). Engineer Bldg, 265, Princess St, 400002; August 20 Baby girl of Seena S. Irani (stillborn). A, Sanjana Bldg, Forjett Hill Rd, Tardeo, 40(1036; August 21 Dhun Bapu Mistry (79), E/10, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; August 21 Jamshedji Navroji Mullan (83), 5, Hampton Court, Colaba, 400005; August 21 Awabai Jehangir Poonjiaji (89), 690, Dinsha Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 22 Jal Bomanshaw Khambatta (81), G/11, Ambedkar Ngr, Parel, 400012; August 24 Najoo Noshir Dubash (81), G-1/9, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; August 26 Purvez. Shapurji Motafram (62), F/56, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 26 Nariman Behramshaw Kham­ batta (80), Old Faramroze Cama Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Tardeo, 400007; August 27 Dara Kaikhushroo Bharucha (75), 16, Sethna Bldg, Princess St, 400002; August 28 Kersi Jehanbux Haivoy (51), 37-17/D, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; August 28 Dinshaw Munchershaw Kapadia (64), Madon Hse, Chira Bazar, Vaka Mulla, 400002; August 28 Ardeshir Bapuji Dhondy (88), 212/C, B. J. Rd, Bandstand, Bandra (W), 400050; August 29 Jer Dhunjishaw Mistry (85), 731, Polson Bldg, Vimadalal Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 29 Marzban Phirozsha Mistry (81), 16, Balwant Apt, Rambaug Lane No 6, Kalyan (W), 421301; August 29 Ho sang Hirjibhoy Choksy (80), A. Shirin Manzil, Dinbai Petit Lane, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; August 30 Freny Pestonji Daruvalla (87), Tarachand Bldg, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400(X)7; August 30 Amy Kersi Ilomavazir (63), 284, Todiwalla Bldg, Dr B. Ambedkar Rd, Parel, 400012; FIGURES AT A GLANCE’ Bombay This issue 1999* India This issue 1999* World This issue 1999* 54 Parsiana October 1999 BIRTHS Boys Girls 3 10 48 53 1 1 1 2 2 12 11 MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 2 43 21 132 7 6 9 4 2 2 3 2 323 328 2 2 3 4 63 51 4 4 23 21 1 ?Running totals for 1999 (January 1999-October 1999 issues) Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana^bQZ not have a breakup of those cremated. ‘These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. August 30 Jeroo Dadi Katrak (76), Soona Mans, 301, Tardeo Rd, 400007; August 30 Keki Manecksha Poonevala (78), 13/5, Ramakrishna Soc, 9, North South Rd, Juhu-Vile Parle Development Scheme, 400049; August 30 Feroz Nusserwanji Tarapore- wala (58), C-10-3, Godrej Hill Side Clny, L. B. S. Marg, Vikh- roli (W), 400079; August 30 Keki Burjorji Vesuna (75), 138, Cawasji Ngr, Village Adajan; August 8 Ketty Jehangirji Dubash (65), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; August 13 Jehangirji Jamshedji Pithawala (87), Bage Parsa Hse, Loohar Pole, 395003; August 15 Rayomand Irani', August 25 DIED Dara Nadersliah Pithawalla, husband of Mehru and father of Minoo, Jamshed and Nancy in Toronto; June 8 Jeroo Viraf Haveliwalla, mother of Dolly, Kaity Patel, Pilloo Navroze and Sheriar; August 3 CALCUTTA DIED Dorab Dhunjishaw Mehta, husband of late Khorshed and father of Dina Khory, Cyrus and Noomi; August 17 KATNI DIED Gulbanu Cowasji Bajan (85), mother of Dhun Ruttonsha Manager, Dinoo Rusi Colombowalla, Tehmu, late Beji and Dorab; August 28 SURAT DIED Dinamai Faramroz. Pajnigara (78), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; August 2 Ratamai Navroji Kupar (87), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; August 6 *** AUSTRALIA New South Wales BORN A girl, Tishtar, to Nina and Kersi Daruwalla in Sydney; February 7 A girl Anahita, to Mehrnaz and Kurush Bilimoria, sister to Arman in Melbourne; July 22 CANADA British Columbia MARRIED Dinaz Homi Italia and Vijay Ajit Rai Marwaha of New Delhi, in Vancouver; June 12 Trudy Piscia and Viraf Repor­ ter, son of Gool and Phiroze of Merritt, in Vancouver; July 31 Niloofar Poulad, daughter of Mitra and Rostam, and Kamyar Mahinsa in Vancouver; August 28 Ontario BORN A boy, Jehan, to Benaaz. and PAKISTAN Karachi DIED Russie Jehangirji Mehta (82), brother of Mamie Jal Byramji, Dara, Themurasp, Freni Behli Tengra, Mani Jehangir Clubwala and late Phiroze, Behli and Jamshed; August 11 SINGAPORE DIED Katy Behramgore Vakil, mother of Ratan and Khorshed Jamshed Unwalla; July 11 USA California MARRIED Shilan Om and Arman Sassani in Orange County; May 28 DIED Mitra Sohrab Khosraviani', Jul y 2__________________ Compiled by Roxana A. DriverI IN MEMORIAM Of mettle and metals Parinaz M. Gandhi cations. ” “At a personal level he was erudite, sophisticated, charming and on occa ­ sions demanding, ” recalled Prof S. was “a worldwide known professional we used towards improving our publi- of materials science. ” During his lifetime, the last major recognition to come his way was the Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering from Ranganathan of the Department of the Indian National Academy Metallurgy, Indian Institute of Science, of Engineering of which he was a founder member. Due to his ill health, this Award was received on his behalf by had contributed many papers in Indian his daughter Dr Shirin Antia at the hands of the Vice Presi ­ dent of India on December 3, trial management. He had further served as member of the All India Council for Technical Education and other training institutes. He was associated with the National Metallurgical Laboratory and the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory as governing body member. who had worked as associate editor of Acta Metallurgica when Antia was on its board of governors. Antia himself and foreign journals on materials sci­ ence and technology as also on indus- Died: Dr Dara Pirojshaw Antia, 84, founder president of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) and a father figure on the Indian metallurgical scene, follow ­ ing a massive stroke and a subsequent comatose condi ­ tion for nearly six months until his demise on May 24, 1999 in Poona. “He was a phenomenal leader, builder of institutions and an amazing profes ­ sional, ” wrote Dr P. Rama Rao, chairman of the Gov ­ ernment of India Atomic Antia: “ builder of 1998. The citation referred Energy Regulatory Board institutions” to his contribution to engi- who was keen that Antia ’s neering spanning over six contributions be commemorated with the institution of something more than just a lecture or a medal. “From the historic days of founding the IIM, Dr Antia dreamt and thought about the glory of our Institute and unceasingly Scroll of Honour by the Institution of strove to realize his dreams... ” added • Rama Rao. “If the IIM today has a unique char ­ acter among professional societies as a very fraternal organization, progressive and liberal in outlook — that cares as much for the younger generation as for the older elite — it is due to the loving national bodies where he was made care and careful attention that Dr Antia Fellow were The American Society for had given to it from the earliest days Metals and the Institute of Materials, through the successive stages. He had been the heart and the soul of the Insti ­ tute, ” recalled C. V. Sundaram, honor ­ ary visiting professor and senior associ ­ ate of the National Institute of Ad ­ vanced Studies, Bangalore. “He was also an ambassador of goodwill who, through his tireless efforts, secured a tor, “His able guidance, honesty of pur ­ rightful place for Indian metallurgy in pose and devotion to duties and the keen decades as a metallurgist and manage ­ ment consultant. Some of the other honors to come Antia ’s way were the Howe Medal of notes his bio data, the American Society for Metals, the A graduate in metallurgical engi ­ neering from the Banaras Hindu Uni ­ versity, Antia was a research assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech ­ nology, USA, and obtained his doctor ­ ate in physical metallurgy and mineral Engineers, the Platinum Medal from the IIM, the Tata Gold Medal, the first Syed Husain Zaheer Medal of the In ­ dian National Science Academy. The Banaras Hindu University had conferred economics in early 1943. Thereafter he on Antia the degree of Doctor of Sci­ ence (honoris causa) in 1983. The inter ­ UK, according to his bio data. He was on the board of many engi ­ neering, chemical and metallurgical com ­ panies, either as chairman or director. As graduated in Advanced Business Man ­ agement from the Harvard Business School. After a short stint at the Alu ­ minium Laboratories Limited, Ontario, he returned to India in 1944 and joined The Aluminium Production Company of India Limited (now The Indian Alu ­ minium Company Limited). In the fol ­ lowing five years he was secretary, noted the condolence resolution passed Metal Industries Panel, Department of attheboardofdirectorsmeetingofBinani Planning, and later, director of metals Metals Limited where Antia was direc- in the Government of India. “While in government service Dr Antia was re ­ sponsible for the conversion of all metal industries from a wartime to peacetime company were a source of innate strength economy, ” K. R. Vaidyanathan gave to the company for which it owes to him him credit in Minerals and Metals Re­ view Annual, 1994. Subsequently he was associated with The Asian Industry and Information Services Private Limited acknowledged the British Aluminium Company Lim­ in their condolence letter, “Dr Antia was not only a director of the company the world community, ” acknowledged interest he took in the affairs of the Sundaram referring to “a dignity, charm and grace about him, a friendliness and deep sincerity of purpose that endeared an immense debt of gratitude. ” him to all. ” Among the international bodies to condole Antia ’s demise were The Insti- in their condolence letter, “Dr Antia itedandwithUnionCarbidelndiaLim- tute of Materials, London which viewed was not only a director of the company ited from where he retired as deputy him as “a highly respected Fellow of from its very inception but because of managing director and then opted to be this Institute, ” and The Chinese Society his being an eminent metallurgist was a for Metals according to whom Antia source of intellectual information which an industrial and management consult ­ ant for engineering, metallurgical and 55 Parsiana October 1999lies all great cultures, including even the As a child Cama had attended the Dr Homi Dhalla, president of the World original Farohar classes of Piloo Jungal- Zarathusti Cultural Foundation, who is walla in Delhi. Now in their second generation, these classes are conducted Adi Sethna, served terms in non family Zoroastrian Organisation London vice border postings. The Vakils “used to mineral industries. wisdom, ” the esoteric tradition of good She met Sir Jivanji Modi ’s 92-year-old Other important assignments he held and evil, light and darkness which under- daughter Bachanmai Bapuji Kanga who were as chairman of the Metals Devel- lies all great cultures, including even the sang a monajat for her. Cama says she opment Council and Mineral Develop- Rosicrucians and Reiki, she says. wants to dovetail her work with that of ment Board, the Indian Engineering Association and the Indian Non-Fer ­ rous Metals Manufacturers Associa- walla in Delhi. Now in their second also working towards the restoration tion, and as advisor to the Tariff Com- generation, these classes are conducted and microfilming of manuscripts. He mission. Industrial Finance Corpora- by young mothers like herself who first will also be doing the book on Parsis in tion and the Industrial Development learnt all about Parsi “rit-rivaj, customs politics, says Cama. Jungalwalla has Bank, mentions his bio data. He had and monajats ” from Jungalwalla in the also served as chairman of the Indian early 1960s. But Cama was doubly for- Lead-Zinc Information Centre, and as tunate in having her roots in Ahmedabad president of the Indian Copper Devel- where her mother Khorshed (nee Vakil) Library. The Bombay Parsi Funchayet opment Centre. brought up her four daughters while her (BPP) and its chairman Jamshed Guzder In addition to his professional com- Army officer husband, presently Delhi have each provided encouragement and mitments, Antia made time for the Parsi Anjuman president Lt Gen (retd) financial support. BPP trustee and World Cheshire Homes (India), the Indian Metals Charitable Trust, the Anant Pandya Memorial Trust and BHUMET sing monajats every day. You were never Golden Jubilee Trust where he was a trustee. A keen sportsman who played up by observing parents, grandparents... golf and tennis, during his college days being proud of being Indian and Parsi he had represented Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy cricket tournaments. Be ­ ing a patron of western music, he had served as president of the Calcutta School of Music for many years. As noted the former rector of the Cama edits academically researched Banaras Hindu University, Prof T. R. Anantharaman, “Dr Antia was a friend, philosopher and guide to me as he was to hundreds of metallurgists who loved tionof Jungalwalla ’sr/z^G^t/zo'j —Hymns and respected him for his many- splendored personality and for his stu ­ pendous contributions to the cause of material from the Bibliotheque Nationale, metallurgical education, research and Paris and New York ’s Metropolitan Mu- industry. He will be remembered with gratitude by the numerous scientists and industrialists who had the good Minorities festival when “for the first fortune to know him and benefit from his incomparable qualities of the head and the heart. ” Antia is survived by his wife Jeroo, daughters Dr Shirin and Mithoo, and son Dr Firoz. donated six lakh rupees in memory of her husband to restore and preserve the manuscripts in Navsari ’s Meherjirana president Dinshaw Tamboly has con ­ sented to be patron of the fund collec- told you have to follow. You just picked tion drive for the project, informs Cama. Dr Armaity Desai, chairperson of the University Grants Commission, is the Zoroastrian and seeing how closely they sociological expert on Cama ’s team, were interlinked. ” Involved in post-doctoral research in interfaith at Delhi University where she also lectures in the department of English, Barrymore and Jal J. Khambatta acted together. There is a photograph of the two of them with an inscription ad ­ dressed to Khambatta from Barrymore, ex Bombay ’s Taj Mahal Hotel, saying “with sincerest good wishes and belief in his success in the most beautiful of She is excited at the receipt of playbills and tickets of a production of Hamlet in Bombay in 1899 when famed star John books with an illustrated coffee table format for the publishing house Mapin. She has been involved with the publica- in Praise of Wisdom which is an illus ­ trated commentary with rare archival parts — Hamlet. ” Five Gujarati plays by Jehangir Pes ­ tonji Khambatta have already been do ­ nated to the proposed archives by Shirin seum of Art. Earlier she had helped orga ­ nize the three-day The Muse and the HoshangVakil. RohintonJambusarwala of Bharuch has contributed his grand uncle ’s library of books. Cama would like the community to be aware that old paintings and manuscripts can be pre ­ served. These items can either be do ­ nated to the archives with the donor ’s name and address — to K. R. Cama Oriental Institute ’s trustee secretary Homai Modi in Bombay and Dr Kapila Vatsyayan of the IGNCA in Delhi, or guidance can be obtained regarding pres ­ ervation from the project for those who desire to retain their own collections. “Perhaps we can put the clock back — find our roots and be proud and regain our lost confidence, ” dreams Cama who would like the remaining Parsi bungalows, wadis and sanatoria in Gujarat ’s deserted villages to be re ­ time in the history of India... top creative people of every faith... sat together on a single platform and discussed the need to maintain ethnic identity as well as Indian identity. ” The theme of “social concerns and creative cohesion ” they then formu ­ lated became the bedrock of Cama ’s pre ­ sentation at the Interfaith gathering “Re ­ ligion and Conservation, ” started at Assisi, on April 21,1999 when she was invited to introduce Zoroastrianism into this world ­ wide movement. According to Cama, UNESCO is “looking at Parsi Zoroastrians as an important element of world culture and DOCUMENTING A LIFESTYLE continued from page 26 book on the English mystic poet cum engraver William Blake. TracingBlake ’s Zoroastrian connection became the theme of her doctoral thesis and Prof Mary Boyce advised her and John Hinnells helped in England for the Zoro ­ astrian part thanks to an introduction by history. (There is) concern that such a Zoroastrian Studies founder Khojeste vibrant community is dying out. ” Hav- Mistree, acknowledges Cama. She found the Zoroastrian impact on Blake inter ­ locked with much in the Jewish tradi ­ tion. Both these religions and Christian ­ ity share the “underground stream of Bulsar and the villages around them. ing already made an initial recee into Gujarat, Cama says she found great vived as self-sustaining holiday homes, interest among the communities of After all, Parsi cuisine is becoming Bharuch, Ahmedabad, Surat, Navsari, “the most popular food in Delhi today, ” she maintains. 56 Parsiana October 1999