September 2000

Volume 23 Number2

EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel

MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi

SENIOR EDITORS

Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver SENIOR DESIGNERKranti M. Shilotri DESIGNER NiveditaA. Potdar MARKETING DIRECTORVeera J. Patel

2 Readers' Forum

13 Events and Personalities

20 Zoroastrians Abroad

26 Marrying out, staying in by Rustom Gae

30 HPY:Paths to progressby Hilla Guzder

ADVERTISING MANAGER Jasmine D. Driver

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVESusan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora

DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER

Khurshid Panthaki

ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER

Swarupa Bhagwat ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde

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ACCOUNTS ASSISTANTSlndu Pillai, Sreevidya Narayanan

OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare,Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav,Manish Pawar

34 Navroze Dhondy's Percept-ions

37 Dorabjee's delectabledishes by Danesh Kalyanivala

40 Downto Earth by Parinaz Gandhi

44 Hail Halo

47 Milestones

51 In Memoriam:Jal Contractor

Cover: A scene from the film1947 Earth

't'

Parsiana is edited and publishedby Jehangir

R. Patel for ParsianaPublications 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, Thana (W), 400604. All rights reserved. Processing Comart Lithographers. Editorial enquiries: 2078183. Advertising: 2078104, 2072915.Subscription: 2665661,

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READERS' FORUM

would be worth knowing.

Dr D. M. DISA WALLA

Bangalore

The purpose of this pieceis to arouse and persuade people to do what is ratio­ nal, and if they themselvesarc not in power to do it, to persuade those who are in power.

Are religion and rational behaviorin

mutual opposition? True religions extol truth as the highest good, the highest virtue. Obviouslytherefore, to perceive the truth of a matter and to adhereto it in conductcan only be the duty and the mark of the religiousindividual as of the rational humanbeing. Consequently no mutual opposition can exist between religion and rational behavior.

Is it rational to go againstnature? Only

if man has the means.Natural phenomena can be overcome by man by the applica­ tion of scientific knowledge and method. When scienceprovided the means, air­ planes could defy gravity and fly.

Supposethat customs once enjoined

by religion (customsdependent on natu­

had visited Bombay, that she wentto see where, at one time, "the sky was dark­ ened by flying vultures" ready for the swoop, not one vulturenow appears. She described the parapet of the dokhma, where at one time the vulturessat in full circle,"shoulder to shoulder," ready for their job, now none sits. She said that she had talked to peoplefrom the Bombay Natural HistorySociety and learntthat no nests can be found in Bombay.The listener heard that a disease affecting the Indian vultureis being studiedand in­ vestigated overseas(for example, at the London Zoological Society). It appears to be a disease that dehydrates, and within a couple of weeks, kills the bird. The listenerheard that the national pro­ hibition on "export" of birds strikesdown any attempt to have the disease in the live bird investigated overseas.

The listenerheard a very matter-of­

fact description of the rotting corpses lying for months unscavenged. Now this last item is not new to the ears of Indian Parsis. It has been spoken and written about for years. I too remained deaf and

Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the communityand should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana,G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001.Letters are subjectto editing for reasonsof space and clarity. Unsigned lettersor those withoutan address will not be published.

"The three Parsi myths"

I refer to the letter by Pervin J. Mistryof

Toronto on "Thethree Parsi myths," Parsiana (June-July 2000). She has her own theoriesboth medical and scienti fie regarding the suitability of dokhmena­ shini and hence I, being a professional, do not wish to enter into further contro­ versies.

The importantissue is not the com­

parison of dokhmenashini vis-a-vis other methods of disposal of the dead viz burial, cremation, etc butthe pre­ vailing conditionsin which dokhme­ nashini is being practiced. I under­ stand that the Zoroastrian population in Torontois far more than at many places in India where dokhmas are in existence to cater to the wishes of the few Zoroastrians.

Perhaps Mistrymayconsiderthe

construction of a dokhma in the center or peripheryof Toronto. The response and views of the Canadian government

2 Parsiana September 2000

ral phenomena) are found by change of circumstance, and on groundsof failure to achieve their object while creating conditions prohibited by religion, de­ m nd their abrogation until the original natural circumstance is reestablished. Which human being can acquiesce in the uninterrupted continuation of such a custom? Certainlyno rational person.

Laws of public good must take pre­

cedence where good sense, integrity fail a person or persons,perpetuating in the name of religious freedomcustoms that have becomeindecent, irreligious and harmful to the environment and to citi­ zens, both the livingand the dead.

There was one particular custom of

one particular religionin one particular city which received airingin the entire worldon August 13, 2000, in two sepa­ rate BBC programs, one science pro­ gramand one programon religion.

The listener heard aboutthe scien­

tific basis of the custom of dokhme­ nashini and its historicorigin. The lis­ tener heard about the religion of Zoroaster and about the Parsis of Bombay.

The listeneralso heard from a BBC

researcher, (not on religion, but on birds), head of the NationalBirds of Prey Cen­ tre in Gloucestershire,England,who

dumb.

Only now, as I listenedto the matter beingsolemnly discussed in the world forum of fellow listeners, was I shaken out of my lethargyon this subject. I don't have an eternityto live, but heaven forbid I must die of shame. That surely is what will happen if I and the rest of us, the Parsis of Bombay,fail within weeks to persuadethe Parsis who manage Parsi affairs in Bombay of the religious im­ peratives:

•to stop defiling the environment, as all

who are laid in the dokhma willy-nilly do and whose relativesas well as those in chargeof Parsi affairsmust know­ ingly do;

•to stop indignity to the dead,while

falsely takingthe name of religion;

•to stop hawing and ha'ing about op­ tions on offer at the beautifulgarden on the hill for the spirit of the dead to depart;

•to provide necessary options at Doon­

gerwadi as part of their religious and social duty.

After hearingthe airing on the BBC

as I have described above, I shall be slow hereafter to shout from the roof­ tops "Iam a Parsi Zoroastrian of Bombay." Parsi, Zoroastrian, indeed! Whatabout you? FEROZA H. SEERVA!

ernment to sanction a Ganesh panda] during the Ganpati festival.

This is literallya life and death ques-

tion. KAYOMARZPATEL

A dokhma in disuse: a sign of the times?

During their discussion on the problem of dokhmenashini or khurshednagi­ rashni as it is also known,caused by the absence of the naturalscavengers, vul­ tures, the most important, underground consecration oftana-ni-kriya at the bot­ tom of the Tower of Silence has crept out of sight.

Tano serves as a protective alaat to prevent unhygienic situations like foul odor.

I had discussedthis underground 'atomic bhoomipujan,' the tano cer­ emony, with an electronics engineerwho is well conversant with power, nuclear energy and solar energy.He was shocked when he was shown the map of the tano circuits createdby cotton threads,con­ nectedwith the centralbig nail and wound around 301 small nails making a power­ ful circuit.He confirmed it being similar to the ultra modern electronicscience of circuits prevalent in the presentage.

Appreciating the system of dokhme­ nashini, a powerful solarium, he ex­ plained that the centrallife force stores sun energy and distributes it around. This storageworks like a miracle even during the rainy season when there is not muchsunshine. This electronicnetwork of the tano controls infections, foul odor, unhygienic conditions and biological deterioration of the dead body.

Our revered scientist, the late Ervad

(Dr) Minocher Karkhanawala had sup­ ported the efficacy of circuits in atomic

·Inventions.'The I"esemo\ance o tanocii"­

cuitsto that of the nuclearnet helps solar

4Parsiana September 2000

energy to work efficiently, to create a hygienic atmosphere without spoiling any natural clements like land, water, fire, air and sky, maintaining the eco­ logical balance of nature.This ultra­ modern systemwill work till solar en­ ergy exists. Absence of vultures should not create much of a problem.

This confirmation will help to open the eyes of those going against dokhme­ nashini and favoring pollutionof air and fire by cremation. NOSHIR DABOO

Ahmedabad

We are all seized of the recent hue and cry generatedby the lack of vulturesand otherbirds of prey at our Doongerwadi. The media is agog with news of the problems faced at Doongerwadi.

Why can't we just importsome vul­

tures and breed them in captivity? I hear that the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has on the anvil an ambitious plan of starting an aviary. One fails to under­ stand as to what environmental and gov­ ernmental clearances the BPP needs, even if one were to accept that vultures are a protected species. We are going to breed them and create an ecosystem that willsustain them and help them grow. We don't plan to kill them orputthem to commercial use, so what'sthe harm anyway?

The amount of time the whole aviary

project is takingto take off is far too long. With a climbingdeath rate, our little communitycan ill affordsuch bu­ reaucratic delays.Just goes to show how much influence we enjoy with the govei"nment considering \nat 'it takes no more than a coupleof days for the gov-

Shortage of vulturesin the vicinity of Doongerwadi is not a new phenom­ enon. It had begun around 30 years ago but had gone unnoticed. N umcrous other controversies on different matterssuch as intercommunity marriages, initiation of children of non-Parsi mothers and last rites for Zoroastrians married out­ side our faith have gone on and on. But this time the matter is rather seriousas a few non-Parsis have started interfering and writingprovocative articles and comments on religious matterspertain­ ing to the community. Such controver­ sies like the recent one involving the shortage of vultures are initiated hy our own community.

More than 50 years ago the whole area in and around theDoongerwadi was surroundedby forests and tall trees with hardly any skyscrapers in the vicin­ ity. Now the scenariohas changed. The presence of foliage preventedpollution and was a safe home for the birds. The same does not hold good at the moment.

Some of the Zoroastrians in the nearby

colonies started a unique practiceof feedingthe great Indianscavenger, the common crow, believing that he was a messenger of God. This practice led to a rise in the population of crows, and vultures being basically shy birds, dis­ liked their presence and the noise. This diminishing tribe found it difficult to survive and whenever a dead body was offered there was no chance for the vultures to come near as the crows nearly drove them off!

This resulted in bodies lying undis­ posed for a long time, maybe months, although solar energy does perform a major role in disintegrating the de.ad bodies. Coupledwith that, plentyof pollution, cloudy weather,especially duringthe monsoons and myriad other factors make it very difficult for the disposal of bodies throughour time­ honored practice.

Also since the last few years it has been noticedthat the khandhiaswho carrythe body into the Towersdo not tear off the clothesbefore sliding the body onto the pavis. What is the reason behind it? This is an important ritual and should be followed. Also when an unex­ posed 'bouy ·ls k.ep\.·msiuc, bow wou\u the vulturesknowthat it can be con-

sumed?

So how is one to deal with the prob­

lem? Breeding of young vulturesis not possible on accountof environmental changes.Even if they are reared,their survival chances are minimal.

The thoughtof a crematorium at Doongerwadi and solar panels was also mooted but that will mean that the Parsi Punchayet will lose acres of land, with

the government eager to build houses on this site. Besides, it is againstZoroas­ trian principles as we arc fire-worship­ pers. All said and done, I feel that dokhmenashini which is the oldest method is also the most scientific sys­ tem for disposal of the dead.

DINSHAW D. NATERWALLA

Behram Dastur, chief executiveof the Bombay Parsi Punchayet,replies

The pallbearers remove the clothes of

the corpses once they are laid to rest in the dokhmas.

"Millennium man"

I refer to Bhikhaji M. Adenwalla's let­

teron the "Millennium man," (Readers'Forum, Parsiana, June-July 2000). I agree that it is time someonewrote a biography of my father,Sam Manek­ shaw and am now lookingat the possi­ bility of doing so.

If any of your readerswould like to

send me any personalexperiences or anecdotesthey would be most useful.

They cane-mailmeatsherryb

@eth.net or write to me at PH 4, Alsa Manor, 72 HarringtonRoad,Chennai

600031.SHERRYD. BATLIWALA

Madras

Common calendar

Those who are opposingthe introduc­

tion of a commoncalendar are doing

disservice and harm to the Parsi com­ munity. Itis a pity that a simple, straight­ forward, proved and accepted phenom­ enon, the time taken by onerevolution of the earth aroundthe sun to complete a year- 3651.,4 days and not 365 days­ is politicized. The Fasli calendarisknown to be most accurateand time tested. A question arises as to why the same has not been adopted for the entire Parsi Zoroastrian community even after knowing that the other calendars are not accurate. The correct Fasli calendar, ifadopted, would notonly have allowed us to celebrate New Year days on fixed dates with the onset ofthe spring season, butmoreimportantly, wouldhave helped

6 Parsiana September 2000

us to foster onenessand brotherhood among the different groups.

DALI J. GUNDEVIA

Noscreen standards?

I have lived in Bombay and elsewhere

amongst our Parsi community, and at present am residing

in Canada.Hence I

can comfortably state that we are no different from any other community at large. But of late, I am beginning to no­ tice a trend,which to me seems brazen and unrepresenta­ tive. Has anyone lately noticed the kind of image of our

community depicted in filmsglobally? I might be old-fashioned and prudent,

however, I would like to attempt being open-minded, as I am an avid film ad­ dictand critic. In the golden era of films,

Parsiswere much respected in spite of taking on roles that were not necessarily depictingthe person's own community. Sohrab Modi hardly ever played a Parsi in movies.Then came the sidekick times, with the advent of Pilloo Wadia type Parsi characters. They were in essence innocentdepictions of membersof our community. Khatta M eethawas a clean drama with Parsi characters. There were some sour notes in the years following, but the most commendable performance came from Sujit Kumar who did full justice to portraying a Parsi gentleman in Avtar, along with Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi. There were many other such portrayals as well. Now oflate, wehave been witnessing a mixed bag, some good and some not so good displayof Parsi characters in films.

Iread the novelSuch A Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry which I thought was very interesting. However, I did not like thescreenplay by the same title.The movie could not carry the emotionsand narrative of the story in full dimensions which was understandable. But what was most disturbing was the needless addition of scenes which could have easily been toned down a bit. I am refer­ ring to the nude sceneof Kurush Deboo. Are Parsis gettingbold these days? I really admired Debao's performance in Percy, hence I cannot hold him solely responsible for that portrayal.

Percy was another straightforward

film, along with the likes of Pestonjee,Sixth Happiness andof!ate, 1947 Earth, which portrayedthe image of Parsis as being normal and dignified, like any other community.

Films like Bombay Boys are really disturbing.WhatwasKaizadGustad

Ascene from thefilm Pestonjee released in 1987 Photo: Homyar Mistry, Homz Prints

achieving by displaying such zany char­ acters, aptly played by artistes like Roshan Seth and AlexanderGifford. In my viewpoint, Bombay Boys' Parsi char­ acters fall out of limits.I have not come across anyone who is anythinglike Xerxes Mistry, as playedby Gifford, or worse yet, Pesi, as played by Seth. Such characters may exist, but why do they need to be made the focus of a story line?

Is there someone authorjtative/rep­

resentative watching what is being stated about our community at large? Or are there no standards anymore? !'havenoth­ ing againstthe portrayal of gay Parsis, even Parsis being shown in the nude. But is there a need to bring out the dark and callous issues instead of better con­ cerns? There are better things to show than that, in my opinion. Not everything has to be like the portrayal of cute, seven-year-old Sasha, ably played by Benaf Dadachanji in Halo. I have seen commendable performances on the sat­ ellite, depicting Parsis in TV soaps. Why then is the cinema not capableof show­ ing a better side of our community? We can all be modern and open-minded, yet remain within the boundaries of dignity. Does anyone share my opinion?Have the morals of our communitychanged? The freedomof expression might be the real cause of this change in morals.

RUSTOM AMARIA

Ontario, Canada

KZBM's new contact

The websitefor our Karachi Zarathosti

Banu Mandaihaschangedto: http://www .geocities.com/banumandal

We have many peoplevisiting this site as we put our monthlynewsletter What's On, at the beginningof each month.TOXY COWASJEE

Karachi, Pakistan

Simple salvation

Pride is a great inventor of religion. We

set up ourselves and our needs and then select religious beliefswhich cater for them: our souls are fed a diet of self­ satisfaction. We seek a Prophet of Ahura Mazda who will flatter our self-esteem; whci will grant our wish to find meaning and purposein life;who will presideover a personal universe of ordered and uninterrupted happiness; whoseways are our ways; whoseprovisions meet our wants; whose laws we can easily obey without personalcost. The religion of modern peopledemonstratestheir exercise of individualized sovereignty: it is the aspiration of those who recog­ nize nodisciplinebeyondtheirown judgement. This is a religionfashioned by emotionalindulgence, selected from available beliefsby chance decision.It is the projectionof a craving for gener­ alizedandsentimentalizedregardfor

humanity- not as it is, corruptedand morallyfrail, but as people yearnfor it to be: an idealized extensionof their own self-worth.

Today's Zoroastrianism hopes to achieve a sense of beauty and spiritual repose; a therapy exercise derived from an interior world hugely at variance with the actualworld experienced by our predecessors in traditional society who were not insulatedfrom reality by the comfortsof modern lifestylesand sanitized death.Human life envisaged by today's Zarathushti entrepreneurs is all goodnessand truth and human vir­ tue: detachedfrom the nastinessof liv­ ing and breathingpeople, and unrelated to the possibilities of evil lurking in daily socialexchange. It is astonishing that after millenniaof human develop­ ment, the men and women of today,with all their knowledge of the materialwork­ ings of the planet and their intellectual resources, should reveal themselves to be so juvenile in their understanding of what authentic Zoroastrian religion is all about. They do seem to think it is a phenomenon of the emotions, a matter of beautiful experience rather like bour­ geois appreciation of art.

True Zoroastrianreligionisabout

sacrifice and personal pain, discipline and offering, the disgusting yet spiritu­ ally cleansing serviceof the unclean and rejected. It is about the things we do not want to do, and it derives from beliefs that are riot pleasant to believe. Zoroas­ trianism is very far from the therapy religion of modernsociety: there we are confronted not with conventional beauty and sereneexperience. This is not the easy visionof the moralists and their human panaceas:it is the world we are called by Zarathushtra to serve face-to­ face. The greatestservice Zoroastrians can offer to others is not the short-term palliation of material applications but the knowledgeof salvation. This is Zo­ roastrianism with real demands,for it goes against our self-regarding instincts and causes us pain. The gate is narrow and the way is hard; thosewho try to discern the way need the help of Zarathushtra himself, and it is the pro­ fundity of His teaching which, in the act of acceptance, is converted into joy.

FURHOK K. TANGREE

La Roche-sur-Foron, France

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9 Parsiana September 2000

cerned adults it is our responsibility to touch theirlives with lovinghands, guide and tune them to developpositive social behavior.In today' s packed academiccurriculum and pursuit of higher de­ grees, there is no scope to offer value based skills to children.

Keeping this in mind, LionsClub

International in collaboration with Quest International has introduced a program

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10 Parsiana September 2000

for buildingself-confidence,selfes­

teem and a senseof responsibility in children to help them emerge as good

citizens. The program"Lions Quest­ Skills for Adolescence" (SFA) launched

in India in 1991 focuses on children in the age-group of 10 to16 years since

that is a critical, vulnerable stageof

physical, mental and emotional devel­ opment, a period when many forms of negative behavior are likely to begin and develop especially due to over ex­ posure to media and computers.

Whatparents, teachers and students don't realize is that skillsinvolved in effective study habits are not restricted to academic performance only but go much beyond to buildingcharacter, in­ terpersonalrelationships which affect every aspectof one's life. SFA teaches young people specific strategies and skills like setting and achieving goals for a healthy environment at school, home, community, commitment to a vice free life with integrity. It is betterto "build a child than repair an adult," is the philosophy.

Quest is a comprehensive educational

programthat helps youngpeople deal with the challenges of our changing world. It teaches them to build and blend knowledge with students and friends. Teachers are the key in creating rapport and confidence. The program calls for a mandatoryteachers' training policy.The teachers, counselors, parents, social workers are trainedat a three-day work­ shop conductedby trained membersof the Tata Institute of Social Sciencesand are given reference materials and teach­ ing aids. This means that Quest pro­ gramsare not for sale to schools. The program is now activelysupported by the Education Department, Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, not only in schoolshaving English medium buteven in municipalschools having Marathi medium.The lessons in Quest fit under the topic "Value-Based Educa­ tion Policy" of the government.

The SFA program consistsof 40 one­ hour sessionsspread over a periodof

continued on page 28

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Events and Personalities

Dentists reunite

"The dentalprocedures in demand to­

dayrepresent services that most practis­ing dentists have had limitedopportu­ nity to learn. The objective of this

tary, Ooshin Shroff,jointsecretary, Porus Turner, scientific chairman, BurzinKhan, treasurer, KarenVazifdar in charge of the souvenir, Rusi Baam, trade fair, Framroze Antia, cultural,Sam

Govadia. Among the youngerpriests, there was ErvadKaizad Tarapore, sit­ ting in on his first ceremonyafter recov­ ering from the burns accidentat the agiary (see "Of fire, faith and friends,"

conference is to provide a com- h ll

mon venue for presentation or

researchandclinicallyori­ ented papers on these aspects, of dentistry in a congenial at­ mosphere," declaresthe pro­ motional literature forthe Fourth WorldZoroastrian Dental

Sahukar, registration, Xerxes

Umrigar, receptionandac­

commodation, Mehroo Turner on theladies commit­ tee, Ferzin Turner, Ashdin Turner, Rohinton Billimoria and Hufriz Suraliwala on the

students committee, and Sarosh

Parsiana, June-July 2000)earlierthis

year, ErvadsRusbe Bharda, Hormuzd

Godha and 11-year-old Nazban Dastur making his debut.

A road runs betweenthe main School buildingand the annexe. The two are joinedby a 45-footoverbridgewhich avoids the danger of the children cross­

Congress at Bombay'sHotel Taj on September 30 and OctoberI, 2000.

"We have planned an interesting and stimulating scientificprogram featuring subjectsof interest to the specialist as well as the general practitioner," an­ nounces the registration form. The two­ dayprogram is to accommodate eight scientific sessionswith one session de­ voted to papers presented by students and the final,open session invitingviews and suggestions of all delegates. They plan to hold a trade fair so that the delegates could buy dental materialsand equipment at bargain prices.An evening

of entertainment followedby a gala ban­ quet was also on the cards.

Thehosts of the Congress, the Zoro­ astrianDentists Organisation, was formed 43 years ago by Bombay'sse­ nior dental surgeonswith the aim of promotinggoodwill and fellowship amongst dental surgeons, organizing and promoting scientific meetingsand lit­ erature, promotingpublic health aware­ ness, assisting students to take up the dental profession, raising funds for ful­ filling the above objectives, states the literature.

The team of dentists who will help

"Light the way with knowledge" (the theme of the Congress)are doctors Keki Mistry, chairman, Fali Driver,cochair­ man, Daisy Sidhwa, organizing secre-

Master, CyrusDaruwalla,AspiSur­

veyor and Firoze Mirza on the advisory

committee. Sidhwa (who can be con­ tacted on 28 I6735 or 28 I6736) was expecting dentistsfrom all overthe world to join the Congress.

Thewelcome annexe

A large garlanded pictureof Jamsetji

Tata had pride of place in the room. Hearing the voices of nine priests rising and falling in unison as they chanted the jashan prayers on June 29, 2000marked the culmination of a dream- the inau­ guration of the anncxe of the J. N. Tata Parsi Girls High School, Nagpur.Like one united family, principal FizzaHamza and all the teachersenthusiastically sup­ ported the idea of havinga jashan and worked hard to make it a meaningful celebration although only 13of the 2,000 students and 15 of the 60 teachers are Zoroastrians, accordingto Kaikhushroo Madan, managing trustee of the School. KhursheedMasani, a senior teacher, welcomedthe guests by applying asagan ni tili on their foreheads.

Lovedand respected by Nagpurians because of his past association with the city, ErvadAspandiar Dadachanji pre­ sided over the jashan.He was assisted by Nagpur'shead priest Ervad Darius Karanjia,Ervads Adil Bhesania (of Bombay), Rusi Dasturand Shapoor

ing the busyroad each time. "This is the

first and only time inNagpur that special

permission was given by the concernedauthorities to builda connecting walk­ way over the road," explained Rusi Jamaji, contractor and builder of the annexe. All the women of his family are products of the Tata School so Jamaji has a specialconcern for the institution!

The annexe consistsof I I spacious, airy classrooms, each equipped to seat 50 students and a staffquarter on the ground floor. The extendedpremises would be utilized to space out the exist­ ing pressureon classes and not be filled up with newadmissions, declared the principal.

"The total expenditureonthe new building has been approximately Rs 70 . lakhs," said Madan. "Of this the contri­ bution of the Tatas has been Rs 30 lakhs through the Ratan Tata and Dorab Tata Trusts.The remaining amount was raised through the willing and generous dona­ tions of past and present students,teach­

ers and well-wishers of the School," he

added.

Established in 1920 largelythrough the munificence of the Tatas, the School has been furthering the cause of female education.It has always been open to all communities, the only rider being that a Parsi should not be refusedadmission. With itshighstandardofeducation,

13Parsiana September 2000

ethics and extracurricular activities over the years, the demand for admissions has outstripped the space available. Therefore, in the platinum jubileeyear of the School in 1995 it was decidedto build an annexe to ease the pressureon the existing facilities. DilnavazE. Bhagwagar

First private port

"Jimmy Sarbh ofNSICT (NhavaSheva

International Container Terminal)has indeed shown to the world how dedi­ cated and single-minded determination can bring about the best resultsin the shortest possible time," said Rajnath Singh, union ministerof surface trans­ port, at NSICT's official inauguration on June 6, 2000.

Developed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port(JNP),NhavaSheva,

across the harbor from the island of Bombay, NSICT is

India's first privatecontainer terminal put into operation15months ahead of schedule.

It is built by a consortium in which P&OPorts holds 95 percentof equity, with five

From left: Hein and Singh lightingthe lamp, Anderson and Sarbh; giant craneson the quay Photos: Nazneen K.

Vajifdar

14 Parsiana September 2000

Nagpur's J. N. Tata Schoolwith the newly built annexe

percent held by the

M. B. Eduljee Cas­ sinath Sons group, whose managing partner Khushrooh

P. Byramjee is an NSICT director as well as a trustee of

Bombay Port, according to company sources. Present at the inauguration, be­ sides the union ministerand his entou­ rage, were RichardHein, chairmanof P&O Australiaand Douglas Anderson,managing director of P&O Ports who had flown in from Sydney.A large group of invitees· and press corps had been ferried by catamaran from Bombay over a sea surprisingly free from the heavy swells of a Bombaymonsoon. At the pier, NSICTexecutives in smartjackets,walkie talkies in hand, usheredthe crowd into buses for a quick drive down the

600 m quay, past dark blue giant gantry

cranes, including India'sfirst super post

panamax crane,towering over berthed

ships and stacked containers.

"I have waitedfiveyears, two months

and 20 days for this," said an elated Sarbh, NSICT's managing directorand regional director, South Asia and Middle East, P&OPorts (see "Thechallenging port-folio," Parsiana, May '99). Dy­ namic and determined, Sarbh had ar­ rivedin India from Sydney five years ago to take up this project with a devel­ opment cost of Rs 850 crores."From a dream NSICT has become a reality. From construction to commissioning, detrac­tors and competitors had said it would be impossible, but we have shown that it is possible in India to achieve and de­ liver a mega project. Right from the beginning, NSICT has set its own high standards,not benchmarked with other terminalsin the country. NSICT is a gem in P&O'scrown, our own Kohinoor on Indiansoii...I say thank you to In­ dia."

Complimenting his "dedicated and spirited staff' who worked from small offices and lofts throughthe planning and construction stages, Sarbh declared that 50 percent of the over 400 strong workforce were project affectedpeople who have been provided employment. "Rarely have I seen anywhere such a well presented and well trained workforce," Hein commended the em­ ployees smartlyturned out in orange uniforms, fluorescent jackets and col­ ored helmets. "Sarbh has been a very important part of all this," he said, "of­ ten at the cost of strain and stress on himself and his family." Stated Ander­ son, "Thebenchmark (in productivity) set by NSICT showswhat can be done in other parts of the world too."

During its first 12 months of opera­ tion (the first 300m of quay line was in operation by March '99), NSICThandled 351, 475 teus (twenty-foot equivalentunits), more than double the 175,000 teus throughput guaranteedto its neigh­ bor, the JNP Trust under the concession

Vultures perched on a dokhmawall

agreement, states theircompany profile. The NSICT's current clientsinclude the world's majorshipping lines likeMaersk Sealand, P&O Nedlloyd, United Arab Shipping Company,etc. It has estab­ lished recordvessel turnaround times and achieveda gross ship rate, accord­ ing to company sources,of over 100 moves per hour- a new benchmark for Indian ports long known for prolonged delays and lethargic movement.

"Iam aware that there are certain

constraints in bringinglarger vessels to this port. There are restrictions on draft...we are committedto the deepen­ ing of the main navigational channel of the port to enable it to handle the most modern fourthand fifth generation ves­ sels," promised the union minister, reit­ erating the government's commitment to the port privatization process.

P&OPorts, headquartered in Sydney.

Australia, has 21 container terminals in 19 countries and interests in a further30 ports,according to their company pro­ file. The 30-year-old BOT (build, oper­ ate and transfer) license to NSICT was granted in July '97. The local partner, the EduljeeCassinath group established as far back as 1857, is a leading steve­ doring concern,with over 500 trained staff handlingcontainers, break-bulk, steel and other bulk cargoes and has expanded its network to Goa and Kandla port, accordingto their press release.

Nearly 18 months after issuing a let­

ter of intentto P&O Portsand drafting a

concession agreement for the develop­ ment of the Rs 300 crorc container ter­ minalat Kandla, the port authorities suddenly decidedto take up the project afresh themselves, reports TheTimes of India, September II, 2000. "Even as we finalized the concession agree­ ment with dock authorities after agree­ ing to absorb dock labor, the Kandla port boardof trustees, in a suddenmove on August 24 scrappedourpropo­ sal without citing any reasons," Sarbh told the paper. P&O Ports is, however, "determined not to Jose the project" for which they have worked very hard for three years,states a faxed message to Parsiana from Sarbh.

P&O Ports'bid to operate the Rajiv

Gandhi ContainerTerminal at Cochin was approvedon September 7 and is now awaitingministerial sanction. Ne­ gotiations arc ongoing for a concession agreement to operate a container termi­ nal in Madras port a's well. P&O Ports alsoaims to presenta concrete proposal in Octoberto the Iraniangovernment for the development of l ,000 m of con­ tainer quaylinein Iran's premierport, BandarAbbas, states the regional direc­ tor. Hilla P. Guzder

Vulture virus?

It is not only the Zoroastrian conserva­

tives in Bombay who are alarmedby the declining strengthof the vultures. The nature conservationists too now fear that these predatorsmaysoonbecomean

President of the Indo-Australian SocietyGodrej Dotivala (at the mike) welcoming the chairman of the India Australia Council Lt Gen ( Retd) Adi Sethna(thin/ from left) at a function in Bombay on July 7, 2000. Speaking on "India-Australia relations,"Sethna advocated the need to dispel preconceived notions and develop a greater opennessin political, economic, social and culturalties between the two countries,notes a press release.

16Parsiana September 2000

extinct species. While originallyit was speculated that the absenceof vultures from around the Doongerwadi area was because of the easy availability of flesh around the abattoirs in Chembur, it has now been reported that the whitcbacked vultures arc dying fast in Keoladco Ghana NationalPark ncar Bharatpur as also the Ranthambhor National Park after showing signs of DroopingHead Syn­ drome. Once the Syndromeis detected, the vulturesdie within a month,men­ tionedan article in The Hindu of May I, 2000 which was forwardedto Parsiana by former municipal commissioner and ex-trustee of the BombayParsiPun­ chayet (BPP) Jamsheed Kanga upon re­ ceiving the news clippingfrom former solicitor generalTehmtan Andhyarujina.

"The country's nationalparks are fast turning into graveyards of vultures. Gyps vultures,particularlythewhite-

backed vultures (Gyps bengalensis) are affected on such a large scale that the forests in Rajasthan are littered with their carcasses," stated The Hindu add­ ing, "the birds have largelydisappeared

-90 percent or more - from Delhi, Corbett and (Bombay)."

Whilst 24 nestswerespottedonly

four birds could be found at the Ranthambhor Park, observed Dr Munir Virani, researchbiologist of The Per­ egrine Fund.The "droopers" were found on peepal(ficus religiosa) and palash (Butea monosperma) trees but all the dead birds were on or around the palash

Everyeffort at this time shouldbe made on an emergency basis to identify and characterize any virus or other dis­ ease factordetected in the tissues of affected birds,Risebrough' s counselwas quotedin the January-February 2000 issue of Pitta, the bulletin of the Birdwatchers' Society ofAndhra Pradesh. Pitta also reportedthat the liver and other internal organs of two birds found dead ordying were covered with whitish crystalsassumed to be uric acid, deposits of which cause gout in humans. "Particularly becauseof the recent identification in the USA of a virus of

come of this experiment.

Distinctive application Scoring 75percent at the final year Bach­ elor of Business Administration exami­ nation, HanoozRustomjiPostwalaof Ahmedabad earnedthe third rank at the Gujarat University, notesacertificate

from his college prin­ cipal R. H. Vyas. In the externalexamina­ tionhe scored the high­ est marks in taxation.

Described as "are­

gular, hardworking

trees. According to Dr RobertRise­ broughof the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the vultures have been hit by a

African origin that has produceddeaths both of people and of wild birds...without provoking anyunduealarm,public

Postwala:

rank holder

and conscientious stu­ dent" of the Som- Lalit Instituteof Busi-

new virus. He feared this could become

an international problem if it spreads to Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and the Middle East, if it has not already. The vultures have reportedly largely disappeared from countries in South-East Asia. "The dis­ ease factormust be found and identified before any studies can be undertaken to determine whether it is confinedto vul­ tures alone or is present in other spe­ cies," Harsh Vardhan, formergeneral secretary of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)-Rajasthan, was quoted in TheHindu.

health authorities both in India and in

other countries should be alertedto the probability that a new disease factor has appeared in the environment," stated Pitta.

In light of this viral speculation, the

feasibility of installing an aviary to breed vultures at the Doongerwadi will thus be questioned once again by the rational­ ists. Earlierthe critics hadfaulted the exorbitant expenditure and energie to be investedin this effort considering that the BPP consultant Jemima Parry­ Jones herself was not sure of the out-

ness Administration, the principal com­

mended him for possessing"charming manners and good moral character," add­ ing, "I havenohesitationinrecom­ mending him eitherfor pursuing any further academicprogram or for any job suitable to his qualifications where such qualities will stand him in good stead." In the first year as well as second year examinations, Postwala had secured dis­ tinction marks,writesPorusKaranja­ walla, presidentoftheFederationof Zoroastrian YouthAssociationsofIn-

continued on page 43

With Best Wishes From

Mr Rusy M. Shroff,M.B.E.

and

Mrs PurvizR. Shroff

18 Parsiana September 2000

ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD

Soviet Zoroastrians

Eight speakers addressedthe first ever

Zoroastrian Congress of CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States comprising Russia and some other mem­ bers of the erstwhileSoviet Union) in St Petersburgon May 28, 2000 in a bid to bring various Zoroastrian groups to­ gether and spread the knowledgeof Prophet Zarathushtra. More than 100 delegates from Moscow, Minsk,Kiev, Paskov, Novgorod,Zaporozhye, Polta­ va, Perm, etc, attended to partake of the discussions in Russian, reportsBurzin Atashband from Moscow in a letter to Parsiana. The local TV and media cov­ ered the Congress. Atashband together with RenazAtashband and Ruby Irani were guests of honor from India.

"The Congress meetingopened with

the Avesta prayers Ashern Vohu, Yatha Ahu Vairyo and Kern Na Mazda recited by Mikhail Chistyakov, the junior dean ofthe Zoroastrian community in St Pe­ tersburg. A candle was lit and pictures of Asho Farohar,Tir Y azad and an astro­ logical chart were displayed. The regis­ trationform had the Asho Faroharand the Russian translation of good thought, good word and good deed," writes Atashband.

Globa Pavel Pavlovich of Moscow, who travelled from place to place over

eightyears to form Zoroastrian commu­ nities in various towns of Russia and is recognized as the dean of the Zoroas­ trian community there, waselectedchair­

man of the Congress.

The themeof Pavlovich's address

was "Zurvanism -innermost doctrine of Zoroastrianism" which was said to be based on a secret text that once be­ longed to his great-grandfather and dated back to the late Sassanian period. Pavlovich believesthat Zurvan, the con­ cept of eternal time, was incorporated by Zarathushtra who preachedhis reli­ gion more than 2,000 years ago in theUralMountains, notes the report. Claim­ ing Russia as the geographical birth­ place ofZoroastrianism, Pavlovich said it will be revived there again in its full glory.

Chistyakov summarized Zoroastrian

activity in his native St Petersburg since 1994. Authorized by Pavlovich to per­ form navjotes, Chistyakov spoke on the importanceof the Amesha Spentas in our dailylives and the freedom of choice

20 Parsiana September 2000

in accepting Zoroastrianism in the present Aquarian age. "To be a Zoroas­ trian is to encounter evil within us and to convert if into good. As a Zoroastrian who wears the divine kusti, (his) respon­sibility as a soldier to fight evil is much higher," Atashband reports the kernel of his speech.

Vokynkin Pavel Alexandrovich of St Petersburgspoke on "Epochs and time,"

straddling astronomy, geography and astrology. Discussing "Themost an­ cient Aryan places in the Urals," Lushnikov Oleg of Perm spoke of the Urals as the homeland of the ancient

Aryans and displayedsome white stones which he maintained are from the Var of Jamshid and the place ofbirth ofProphet Zarathushtra, reportsAtashband.

Martsenuyk Pavel ofZaporozye pre­

mised that when the scriptures are un­

derstood carefully, one learns that all religions emanatefrom a single source. Hence men should live peacefully with each other.

Kuchma AlexanderAlekseevichof

Minsk spoke of the prospectsof devel­ opment of Zoroastrianism in Belorussia where it is a cherisheddream to be a Zoroastrian because the ancientRussian culture resembles the Zoroastrian reli­ gion. One should not merely study itbut live by its principles, he said.

Concentrating on the basic Zoroas­trian trilogy, Samodelov Julia of St Pe­ tersburg noted that every thought,word and deed has to be in accordance with free choice, should be in the right form and be incorporated from childhood, albeit within the limits of one's horo­ scope, as reports Atashband.

Atashband explained the religion as a practising Zoroastrian, emphasizing complete faith in Ahura Mazda and the holy manthras. Speaking about the navjote ceremony, the calendar, the dif­ ferent gradesof fire-temples, the towers of silence, he underlined the need to live life in accordance with the teachingsof the Amesha Spentas,leading to the final goal ofFrashokereti (union of each soul with Ahura Mazda).

Group discussions after the talks which were in Russian led to the enun­ ciation of the following goals:

• To form a common system of Zoroas­

trian rites and rituals to be followed by them

• Creation of a commoninformation basis

• Preparation for the World Zoroastrian Congress to be held from December28, 2000 in Houston, USA

•Preparation for the Second Zoroastrian

Congress of CIS countries

•Creation of a common print publica­ tion

•Preparation of religious professionals

•Creation of an institute for priests

•Contact with other Zoroastrian organi­

zations

•Creation of a commonsite on the

Internet

•Coordination of scientific research with the Zoroastrian religion and dissemina­tion of accumulated knowledge

•Research in the Zoroastrian religion

•Construction of a fire-temple

A tour of the "golden ring of the Aryans," named "By way of Zara­ thushtra 2000," organized by Pavlovich

and the PermskayaAvestiyskaya School of Astrology,was due between July 1- 13,2000. Starting from the city of Perm,

the routeincluded the mountain of Zarathushtra (Belaya),the Belogorskiy SvyatonikolaevskiyMonastary, the Kungurskaya Ice Cave, Bashkortostan, Slatoust, Miass, theLake of Turgoyak, the Lake of Vera, Ilmensikiy mineral­ ogicalmuseum, Arkaim, Chelyabinsk, Polevskoy, Ekaterinburg and back to Perm - a 13-day tour at a cost ofapproximately US$ 100 inclusiveof board, lodging and seminar.

Readers interested in toursof Ariyana Vaeja, the Belayamountain, etc, may contact Perm-asha@mail.ru. Their web page is http//perm-asha.chat.ru

Pavlovich, who claims Zoroastrian descent through his maternal grandfa­

ther, performsthe navjotes of those who believe in the Zoroastrian doctrines. Though their interest is generally sparked

via their interest in astrology, as writes

Atashband, the Zoroastrians of St Pe­ tersburg say that the Zoroastrian manthras are the answer to all theirprob­ lems, linking theirfaith to happiness, charity, progress and positive thinking. Strong in theirbeliefs, they disapprove o groupmembers believing in other religions and have ceased visiting churches.

Selected men and womenbecome priestscalled herbads who perform navjotes at any age. They make their own kusti from three different colors­ yellow, blue and red-tied over a white

trian priest,is surrounded by lady priestsas he performs the navjoteof

newmembers

Below: Groupphotograph of First Zoroastrian Congress of CIS countries

gannent. On festivals like Navroz, they have the holy fire burning, people dress in white and every­ one, including women, wear padan i.e. the mouths are covered. They believe it to be a good practice,describes Atashband.

Community meetings

are held weekly n some Zoroastrian homes. They know their kusti prayers, Srosh Baj,Srosh Yasht

Hadokht, etc, which are available in the

Russian and English script.A transla­ tion of the Khordeh A vestais awaiting publication and the Bundahishn is under translation. The current issue of their astrological journalMithra includes ar­ ticles on the Stoat Yasht,Studkar Nask, Asho Ravans,Zoroastrian astrology, stars and planets,special days and holi­ days, fire-temples, Navroz, caps of Per­ sia, strong Aryan men, e.g. Kersasp, etc, notes the report.

Writes Atashband, "According to them Parsis are the originalZoroastrians but they too can follow Zoroastrianism.

When asked what will be their reaction if in India the doors of the agiariesare closed for them, they said that it will be the Parsis who will be at a loss in not letting them pray, because they have realized Zoroastrianism and will follow its doctrines all their life as they have been giventhe right to do so by Lord Zarathushtra.

"Mikhail Chistyakov is one of their

priests who enthusiastically spreads Zo­ roastrianism among Russians. He wants to learn all the fundamental duties of a priest and also presenta paper in Hous­ ton for the coming Zoroastrian World

Congress. Due to economicproblems it may be difficultto visit Houstonbut hope­ fully he may be able to get some sponsorship that will enable him to take part in the Congress.

"Their immediate need is to form a strong group of believers and to build a fire­ temple. They requirefunds, religious books, priestly clothes,photos of Lord Zarathushtra, barsam,afar­ gan, sudreh-kustis, Avesta

dictionary, etc. They have planned to do jashans onfestive occasions, for house cleaning,good health and general pros­ perity.

"It will be most surprising to know

that we were thefirst original Zoroastri­ ans who they have met and they werevery courteous to all of us ..

"The above article is about my visit to the Congressmeeting and what I have mentioned is what they have discussed, what has been told to me by them and what I have seen.I found them to be sincere, very interested in our religion, trying to gather all informationabout

22 Pars/ana September2000

Zoroastrianism and sincerely trying to follow and spread it. They staunchly believe themselves to be Aryansand are proud of their Zoroastrianancestry."

Readying for the Congress The Zoroastrian Association of Hous­ ton (ZAH) is determined to repair its parking lot at its Zarathushti Heritage and CulturalCenter before the Congress delegatesreach there. Plannedto ac­ commodate 90 vehicles,32 parking spaces will be reserved against dona­ tions in order to generatethe necessary funds, notes ZAH executive committee member Kersi Engineerin the August issue of their newsletter, Manashni. Sofar commitments totaling$35,000 have come in, but the total estimated cost needs $ 30,000 more.

ZACplans expansion

The Chicagochapter of the Zarathusti

Chamber of Commerce(ZCC-CC) in­ augurateda couple of months ago under the auspices of the Zoroastrian Associa­ tion of Metropolitan Chicago(ZAC), meets on the third Thursday each month at the Darbe Mehr. Currentlythe em­ phasis is on finding job assistance, mentoring,providing immigration as­ sistance and networking with the possi­ bility of venture capitalprojects.

One of its first major projects under consideration is the acquisition of two parcels of land adjacentto the Darbe Mehr property. Accordingto the feasi­ bility study conducted by Dara Rivetna, the land- 2.58 acres and 1.2 acres- is offered for sale at a total of$ 850,000. Depending on the collateral offered, two local bankswould be willing to finance up to 80 percentof the project. Coming up in the vicinityis a strip mall with the possibility of a multi-use senior citizens center being incorporated, informs the ZAC's August newsletter.

Phase two of the Darbe Mehr expan­ sion is also proceeding rapidly,notes the newsletter. Thanks to the involve­

ment of the Rivetna family (design by Cyrus, execution by Rohinton and Dara), the framework has been com­

pleted, including the external wallsand roof.Pouring the concretefloor, put­ ting up the dividing walls, installing the windows and the fireproof doors is the next stage envisioned, requiring another dose of time and money. The group in charge of kitchenequipment is expected

notes the update in the newsletter.

ZAC's Dasturji Kotwal Research Fund to support his research and translation of the classical texts. Herbedestan ("The Book of the advanced priestlystud­ ies") and Nerangestan ("The Book of Ritual Di­ rections"), has so far netted

$2,200, informsthe news­

letter. The goal was to col­ lect $18,000. The newslet­ ter acknowledges the gen­ erous support to the high priest from the London based Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe which has enabled Kotwal and

his collaborator Dr Philip Kreyen­ broek, professor of

Iranian Studiesat the University of Gottingen, Ger­ many, to publish volume one of the

Herbedestan and volume two of the

Nerangestan in Paris under the series of Acta I ranica,Cahier I0 and 16 respec­ tively.

Kotwal, who is currently on a re­ search-cum-lecture tour of Europe and America, is said to be on the verge of completing volumethree during his current Chicago stay with Zubin and Zenobia Tantra, chalking up 85 percent of his project. The fourth and last vol­ umewill take anothercouple of years. Volumes III and IV arc expectedto be published in the Studia Iranica series edited by Prof Philippe Gignoux.

Karachi's mobedBhadha Mehernosh Bhadha, II,has become an instant celebrityin Pakistan. Having completed his navar and maratabcer­ emoniesat Bombay's Vachaghandhy Agiary under its proficient panthaky Aspandiar Dadachanji, Bhadha was feted by the community in Karachi, written about in DawnMagazine and featured on Zee TV -Europe.

The son of Shernazand Minoa Bhadha studying in the sixthstandard at the B. V. S. ParsiHigh School, Bhadha holds the School'sjunior shields for elocution in Englishand Urdu, is a keen swimmer, sportsman, computer bug and

Bhadha: Karachi's youngest mobed

and former vice chancellor of the University of Karachi Dr Ehsan Rashid selected him for its award in the educational field. A gold plated trophy and certifi­cate of excellence were pre­ sented to him in April. He was also one of 21 recipi­ ents of the New Millennium Gold Medal in the boy child category,notes a press re­ lease.

According to the Dawn

article by Farishta Di nshaw, the desire to become a navar

was not initiated by his parentsbut sprang spontaneously in the lad when he saw Bombay-based cousins of his age who had become navars. Initiallyconcerned about the strictpreparations that such an undertaking required, his parents were won over by the boy's enthusiasmas well as the supportand advice they re­ ceived from priests in Karachi and Bombay.

Prominent dentistof Pakistan and authorofPreventive Dental Measures for Handicapped Children, Dr Rumi

R. Sukhia(left) received the Pierre

Fauchard AcademyShield USA from Dr Nasim Hasan Shah (right),retired

chief justice, SupremeCourt of Paki­ stan, who was the chief guest at the International Dental Convocation held in Lahore on August 3, 2000. Looking on is Prof(Dr)M.A. Soofi. The shield commemorating Fauchard (born in 1678),the French father of dentistry, is presented worldwide to dentists outstanding in their promo­ tion of the profession. Sukhia is the first Parsi in Pakistan to be so recog­ nized, notes a press release.

to visit local stores to identify addi­

boy scout. The selection committee of

tional appliances, storage cabinets, etc,

24 Parsiana September 2000

Xth Star Awards 1999chairedby scholar

Compiled by Arnavaz S. Mama

COMMENT

Marrying out, staying in

Parsis married underthe Special MarriageAct cannot

be deer: ed to have renounced their religion even if they opt for a subsequentsaptapadi ceremony

Rustom S. Gae

Inter-caste marriages among the minus­ cule community of Parsis, specially highly educated and economically inde­ pendent Parsi women, are increasing day by day. A large number of Parsi boys going to foreign countries for higher studies do not returnto India but settle down in those countries to improve their prospects in life. Thereby the commu­ nity in India loses the educatedyouth. This causesdearth of suitablespouses for educatedParsi women, ultimatelyleading them toengage in inter-caste marriages.

Inter-caste marriages(commonly

known as "civil marriages") almost in­ variably take place under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (S. M. Act).Such marriages can be solemnized between any two persons,irrespective of their religion,caste or community. Normally persons belonging to different religions, castes or communities have their mar­ riage solemnized under this Act. It is, however, open to two persons belong­ing to the same faith or religion(e.g. two Parsis) to solemnizetheir marriage un­ der the S.M.Act. It is not necessary that parties to the marriageshould renounce their religion at the time of marriagewhich was a condition precedent under the SpecialMarriage Act, 1872 (since repealed).A Parsi continues to remain a Parsi even after he or she marries a non­ Parsi.

Anytwo persons of age must give notice in the prescribed form to the mar­ riage officer of the districtin which at leastone of the parties to the marriagehas resided for not less than 30 days precedingthe date of such notice. Mar­ riage must be solemnized within three months from the date of such notice. Objections, if any, to the marriagemust be taken within 30 days of the date of publicationof the notice, specifying the grounds of objection. The marriage of­ ficer disposesof objections afterhear­ ing the parties c'oncerned. After expiry

26 Parsiana September 2000

of 30 days the marriagemay be solem­ nized, unlesspreviously objected. Be­ foresolemnization ofthe marriage,par­ ties thereto and three witnesses shall in the presence of the marriage officersign the declaration in the prescribed form and it will thereafter be countersigned by the marriageofficer. He then issues the marriage certificate signed by the parties to the marriage and three wit­ nesses. Such certificate serves as a con­ clusiveevidence as to the solemnization of the marriageunder the S. M. Act.

Provisions contained in the S.M. Act

prevail over those contained in any other law (e.g. the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 or the HinduMarriage Act, 1955). Rights,obligations and status of parties to such marriage are regulated only by the provisions containedtherein and not by any other law. Succession to the propertyof a Parsi whose marriageis solemnized under the S.M. Act shall be regulatedby the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925and "Special Rules for Parsi Intestates" (Parsis dying with­ out making any will) will not be appli­ cable in the matter.

On solemnization of the civilmar­ riage of a Parsi, parentsor other close relatives of parties to the marriageusu­ ally desire that some Zoroastrian prayers

(e.g. ashirvad and Tandarosti prayers)

be also offered. There can be no objec­ tion to the adoption of this courseaimed at giving mentalsatisfaction and solace to the relatives of the marryingcouple. It is desirable that ceremonies and rituals attendanton such prayersare avoided. This cannot, however, alter the position in Jaw that the marriageis for all pur­ poses a civil marriagegoverned by the provisions of the S.M. Act and does not becomea Parsi marriage. For a valid Parsi marriage both parties to the mar­ riage must be Parsis (see "Judicial mean­ ing of Parsi," pg 52) and such marriagemust be solemnized according to the Parsi form of ceremony called ashirvad

by a Parsi priest in the presence of two Parsi witnesses.

A Parsi female marrying a non-Parsi male under the S.M. Act and continuing to follow the Zoroastrian religionafter

such marriage remainsa Parsi Zoroas­ trian entitledto all rights, privileges and benefits available to members of the Parsi community. She is entitledto enter and offer prayersin an atash behram, agiary or dar-e-meher and attend, and participatein, all religious ceremonies

(e.g. jashan,afringan, geh sarnaand

uthamna ceremonies) and to be present

and partake in community functions(e.g. gahambars, Pateti and Navrozfunctions). Trust deeds relatingto these institutions almost invariably providethat they are for the benefit ofParsi Zoroastrians. She has also the right to avail of Doongerwadi facilities on her death. This is now rec­ ognizedby the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) by passingthe historic resolution fo1lowingthe demise ofRoxan Shah (nee Nazir) whose body was denied funeral rites at the Doonger­wadi. (The obtaining of an affidavit from a near relative as to her professing the Zoroastrian religionat the time of her death is really unnecessary and should be dispensed with.) This led to the for­ mation of the Association oflnter-Mar­ ried Zoroastrians to safeguard the reli­ gious and social rights ofParsis married to non-Parsis. It is now we11 settledthat Parsi females have in similar circum­ stances an equal right of franchise with the rest of the·community at the electionof trustees of the BPP.

Several Parsi females marryHindu

males under the S. M. Act and have the saptapadi (taking of seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride before the sacred fire) ceremony performed ac­ cording to Hindu rites. The questionarises whether such marriage becomes a Hindu marriage.

A "Hindu marriage" solemnized un­

continued on page 52

SEMINAR

Pathsto progress

The BPP'sHoliday Programme for Youth

laid emphasis on information technology and the message for a clean and greenenvironment

Hilla P. Guzder

contest. Talks on religionby Zoroas­ trian Studies,visits to the Parsi ward at the J. J. Hospital and the F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla (old age home for needy Parsis), performance of a navjoteof a poor child, cleaning of agiaries, etc kindle the community spirit.A sense of healthy competitiveness is fosteredthrough in­ door and outdoor sportswhich include football,cricket, basketball, etc.

Eminent educationist Dr Nawaz

It was a sign of the changing times. The

14th HPY (Holiday Programmefor Youth),the first in the 2000s,had eco­ friendliness as its theme and the prizes for project work were saplings! Student groupsfanned out to railway stations, petrol pumps, etc,to create awareness about the advantages of unleaded petrol, vermiculture, separation of wet and dry waste, etc. Amongstits sports activities were the hithertounknown bowling and pool. On May25, 2000 as a melangeof trendyteenagers, boys in smart jackets with ties, girlsin stylish, backless blues and blacks, steppedup smartly on stage to receive theirprizes at the valedictory function, program coordinator Diana Marfatiadeclared: "Neverbefor, atHPY have I seensuch an enthusiastic, ener­ getic and committed lot of participants and youngorganizers." She made spe­ cial mentionof the blood donation drive which succeeded in collecting 125 bottles of blood-a figure unsurpassed so far."It left eventhe medical person­ nel at the drive speechless," she said. HPY is held each year under the aus­ pices of the BombayParsi Punchayet (BPP), with chief executiveBehram Dastur and senior executive Sheroo Master being members of the organiz­ ing committee.

Eminent neurosurgeon Dr Keki Turel, who was the chief guest, advised the teenagersto avoid a herd tendency while chalking out theircareers. "Do not, for example,go in for information technologyif you have no aptitudefor it. I chose neurosurgery at a time it was virtually unknownin India. Everyonetried to dissuademe," said the doctor, a navar and maratab, and a worldwide authority on brain surgery who has pre­ sented 125 papers in all cornersof the globe. "Choose the career that suits your temperament and abilities. Youth is the most beautifulage in life, though full of flaws and fragility." Youngpeople to-

30 Parsiana September 2000

day want instant success, instantmoney,

he observed. "Isee in medical practice patients35 years old, suffering heart attacks, being tended by their parents or even grandparents thoughit should re­ ally be the otherway around. Divide your time sensibly betweenwork, fam­ ily needs, hobbiesand ocial causes, he counselled. Part of one'sincome must "silently and deliberately" be donated to charity. Parsis throughhistory have been known for this "magnificent trait." Pos­ sess and practicevirtue, asserted Turel, so that "in the noisy confusionof life you can be at peace with your soul and have the strength of spirit to shield you in times of distress."

HPY this year saw an enrolment of 185 students(101 boys and 84girls), representing a total of 74 differentschools - 59 in Bombay and 15 in places as far distantas Ajmer, Ahmed­ nager, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, etc. The BPP puts in a substantial subsidyto sponsor the program,and also bears boarding and lodging costs for out of Bombay students who do not have fam­ ily or friends to reside with, stated Marfatia.With students fresh out of school and often undecidedwhich path to take, HPY seeks to arm them with informativetalks on different careers. "Talks on careers ran concurrently, so students interested in, for example,com­ merce and not in science did not have to sit through talks in that field," explains Marfatia. "There was a specialemphasis on information technology. For a pro­ fession like advertising, we encouraged students to visit an advertising agency, prepare a portfolio, etc. Talks progressed beyond the theoretical to the practical level as well." Aptitude tests, self-aware­ ness and leadership programs are an integral part as are a gamut of group activities like debates, elocution, lexi­ con quiz, talent contest,and the ever­ popularfashionshowand personality

Mody,Sir Pherozeshah Mehta profes­ sor of civics and politics and head ofthe department of civics and politics at Bombay University who was the guest of honor at the valedictory function, called upon the BPP to takethe initiative in providing Parsi youngsters theoppor­ tunity to enter professional collegesin the medical, engineering and manage­ ment fields."Some years ago it was fashionable to say that the Parsi commu­ nity should integrate into the plural na­ ture oflndian society and not ask for any spedal favors. Times are unrealistic for that now. Among the 300 or so colleges of Bombay University thereis only one college for the community- the BJPC (ByramjeeJeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable) College of Commerce," remarked Mody. The late Roshen Driver,former princi­ pal of the BJPC Institution had mooted to her (Mody) the idea of commencing Bachelor of Management Studies cour­ ses there, and applying for recognition for the Master of Management Studies course as well, in which Parsi students would have access to 50percentof seats. It is very disheartening that in the last few decadeshardly any Parsi has en­ tered the civil or police cadresin Maha­ rashtra, she noted. Even in a mundane profession like teaching, there are very few Parsi teachers at the University level; declared Mody, addingthat it was mainly in the legal andmedical professions that the "community has taken care of it­ self."

The inauguration of the 25-day HPY

on May 1, 2000 saw guest of honor and well-known solicitor Rusi Sethna, part­ ner of Romer, Dadachanji, Sethna and Company remark that as a trustee of the

R. D. Sethna CharityTrust, which dis­

bursed interest free loans to students proceedingabroad for higher educa­ tion, he had noticed "noteven two per­ cent ofthe loans have gone sour." Very disturbing however was "the total disil-

From lejt (first row): Sethna, Maifatia, Rustom Ankles aria,

Dinshaw Tamboly, Guzder, Subedar and Shroff; Subedar (top) and Maifatia (below)

2nd row: KhursheedMistry, Turel and Irani; Bezad Khambatta and Mody

3rd row: Youthful organizers (seated) Jim Vimadalal, Bhujwalla, Maifatia, JehangirBhadha, Khorram Siodia;

• (standing) Dilber Devitre,Vahbiz Engineer, Fabian Panthaki,Vinifer Gandhi and Shirzad Khory

{Photo: Hilla Guzder); On the dais: Rustom Tirandaz, Dinshaw Mehta, Dastur,Mehli Co{ah and Master

1

Bottom: A section of the

audience

31Pars/ana September 2000

Top row (left to right) Spenta Patel, Palia, Mody, Pearl Mistry; Rehaan Bharucha, Turel and Nozer Bhadha;Ms HPY Kavarana with Mr HPY Dastoor

2nd row: Kavaranawith Turel; NazbanMistry and Mody with Mer­ chant(center)

Photos: C. C. Gandevia

lusionment with life in India among the student community." Sixty percentof students who take the scholarships never return to India, he maintained. In the new liberalized India of the 21st century it is up to us to create conditions to invite them back. At top corporate levels, he believed, salarieshere are higherthan abroad if one looks at the cost of living, taxation is lower, there are benefitslike employee stock options, etc. Parents should impress upon children that this was their home and that they shouldtake up the challenge of building a career here.

Speaking with legal conciseness and

clarity, Sethna stated that he would char­ acterizeParsis not as a dying, but as a diminishing community. "I do not wish to raise a hornet'snest or create a contro­versy," he noted, "I am merely express­ ing my views when I say it is time the community gave serious thought to the question of admitting not just the chil­ dren ofParsi fathersand non-Parsi moth­ ers, but of Parsi women married out as well." As of now, we are losing on the swings and the roundabouts, he declared, adding that if the decline is not arrested Parsis will soon become an endangered species like the great Indian bustard or thewhite tiger.

32 Parsiana September 2000

Reversing the traditional order of salutation and greeting the HPYitesfirst, before the YIPs on the dais, as "this program is for them." Sethna encour­ aged the assembledgirls and boys to develop entrepreneurial skill. ''There is no substitute for integrity and applica­ tion. Have ambitions but do not cloud your vision with envy or greed," he counselled, also calling upon the stu­ dents to do communitywork. "More than your money, the communityof your birth requires your time and atten­ tion. Otherwise trust funds will stagnate or dry up,"he said.

Endorsing Sethna' s views, Farokh Subedar,vice president, finance,Tata Sons Limited,who was the chief guest at the inaugural, believedParsis "must get over talking of the glorious Britishdays. We can be that way now too." What is requiredis to bring back the values of the past, to reignitethe entreprene,urial spirit. The infrastructure of the ve'hture capital fund spearheaded by the BPP is in place, he stated. but the few proposals for projects receivedthus far were "not the kind we expected." Parsi entrepre­ neurs have not partaken, for example, in the IT (information technology) revolu­ tion in India, nor for that matter in the US whereIndianshave been particu-

larly successful in that field.Just being a graduate is no longer enough, we need specializedskills in a specialized age. "Match your skills to what the demand is and try to tap the niche areas that are openingup," exhorted Subedarwho believed that Parsis should look to rec­ reate the right to get a few seats in educational institutions set up by our ancestors which may have been handed over to the government or to autono­mous bodies.

Through HPY's14 years, over

2,200 Parsi students have reaped its benefits, stated BPP trustee Minoo Shroff who chairedthe inauguration. BPP chairman JamshedGuzder who presided over the closing functionre­ markedthat it was his pride, privilege and good luck to be the only existing (BPP) trustee who was presentat the very first HPY. "At that time I never expected to be here for the 14th one," he stated. The program's prime mover, Marfatia, secured a standing ovation as did senior most organizerand mas­ ter of ceremonies Priya Bhujwalla. Marfatia commended the HPYites of previous years who worked as orga­ nizers despite their studies and im­ pending exams. The steering commit-

continued on page 43

PROFESSIONS

Dhondy's Percept-ions

As CEO of Percept Advertising, New Delhi,

Navroze Dhondy aims to take the agencyinto the country's top 20

Hilla P. Guzder

He was a young management student in Allahabad when he, along with a friend, wrote and published Key to the Cube, a book on Rubik' s Cube. His collection of poems, In blackand white

and other jottingsis to be published shortly.Photog­ raphy is his passion,adver­ tising his profession.

Navroze Dhondy, chief executiveofficer (CEO) of Percept Advertising Lim­ ited, New Delhi, jocularly describesadvertising as the art of holdinga person's at­

tention long enough to get money out of his pocket. Advertisements often end up like passingships in the night, soon forgotten. To achieve one's goal, adver­ tising has to strike either at the heart or the head, he declares. When the movie Titanic was released, his agency at that time brought out a prominent advertise­ ment for Kelvinator refrigerators: "For once we wish there was no ice. In me­ moriam of the Titanic." The advertise­ ment was a great success,he relates.

"The challenge of converting Per­ cept from a plain vanilla ad agency into an integrated marketing communications agency was too good to resist," Dhondy told Business Today,September22, '99 when he quit TBWA Anthem Private Limited, New Delhi around a year ago to join Percept.Dhondy catapulted Anthem'sbillings from Rs 12 crore to Rs 60 crore in just five years, noted the magazine. "Mytask is to see that Per­ cept gets its place in the sun, to break into the top 20 of the country's ad agen­ cies, aim for a sharp growth in a stagnat­ing industry. Managinggrowth is the biggest challenge," Dhondy told Par­ siana.

It was chancethatfirstbrought

Dhondy to Lintas' door almost 18 years

Adman Dhondy (above and alongside) with wife Niluferand children Anahita and Kurush

34 Parstana September 2000

ago. "Though I had put in an application to their head office in Bombay,I was in Delhi to appear for interviews with other companieslike ApolloTyres, Modi Xerox, etc. At Nehru Place I

happenedto pass by Lintas' office and on an impulseI walked in. The place was in absolutechaos as one wing of the office was being done up and everything was cram­ med into the other wing. The branchmanager lookedthrough my work and, suit­ ably impressed, gave me the

job on the spotto fill a vacancy that

existed," grinsDhondy. Advertising to­ day has come into its own with much 'respectability'attached to the job, but at that time it was one of themost poorly paid professions, he notes, and a job with any other big corporate house would have fetchedhim a much higher salary.

His parents, Dinyar and Meherin. Allahabad, thought he had "gone ba­ nanas" to go in for a lower paidjob! "But

I have never regrettedit," he smiles.

After postings in Bombay, Banga­ lore and Delhi where he set up the office of Karishma Advertising (a Lintas com­ pany), Dhondyleft Lintas to join HTA (Hindu stan Thomson Associates). "That was the maverick in me comingto the fore," he laughs."For eight years I had been a hardened HTA (rival agency) hater!" From account director to associ­ ate vice president and client service di­ rector, Dhondy promotedbusiness with prestigiousclients such as Hero Honda, Horlicks,NestleIndiaLimited, etc. In a profession notoriousfor job-hop­ ping, Dhondy moved afterfour years to TBWA Anthem as CEO/executive director handling brands like Sony, Kelvinator,Oriflame,LeeCooper, etc.

His initiation into the world of teach­

ing took place when, duringhis years with HTA, his boss once asked him to substitute for him at the last minute to make a presentation at a seminar at the TimesSchool of Marketing in New Delhi. He worked "like a maniac," the presen­ tation went off well, and Dhondy soon found himself taking regular sessions at the Times School, Indian Institute of Mass Communications, New Delhi, BITS, Pilani, etc. Dhondy is also on the visit­ ing faculty at Symbiosis,Poona and Mica, Ahmedabad. "Students today question you, throw ideas back at you," he asserts, an attitude which invigorates Dhondy's Gemini spirit!

Dhondy's impulsiveness often finds expression in penningpoetry. "I write anywhere, anytime-on paper napkins or backs of magazines," he explains, adding that the title of his to-be-pub­ lished collection of poems is because he hates ambivalence and likes everything in black and white! Anotherblack and white passion is photography. His great­ grandfather Maneckshaw B. Mistry had

Bordi(Station Gholvad)

Air conditioned Deluxe room per CoupleRs I ,350/-

Semi Deluxe room per CoupleRsI ,000/­

a summer studio in Nainitaland a winter studioin Allahabad and used to go to England to teach photography! His ma­ ternal grandfather, Jamshed M. Patell, was a professional photographer with a studio in Allahabad which had a roof and sides of glass to let in the light.

EmbeddedinDhondy'smindarememo­

the stupefaction of the sentriesguard­ ing the presidential abode!

Combining his writing and photog­ raphy skills,Dhondy has contributed travelogs to magazines. "Celebrating Christmas in Singapore" publishedin Touchin' Heights described, not run-of­

the-mill touristsights of Singapore,but

Non-AC room per CoupleRs800/-

(Inclusive of Lodging & All Meals,free access to Swimming)[Group Discount

I 0% for four persons in one Room] Contact Bombay- 3821494.

Bordi - 02528 41182-41336

E-mail: GOOLKHUSH@USA.NET

MATRIMONIAL

Well placedparents invite matrimonial correspondence for their daughter, 26 years, qualified as a Chartered Accountant and employedin a reputed firm. Highly educated and well placed Zoroastrian boys in India/Abroad, to match the outgoing personality, who

are cultured and have variedinterest in

Arts and Music, may kindly reply in confidence with full bio data and recent photograph to:

The Advertiser

Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/15-2000)*

GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001

ries of his grand­

father's huge old camera, the big black hood he would put over his head, thebig lenses with the bellows and the plunger with the rubberized air release.His motherand grand­ mother, he remarks, were very good at touching up and coloring photo­ graphs, so photo­ graphic genesare verymuch in the family!Starting witha few pictures of his young cous­

-... --

His great-grandfather Maneckshaw B.

Mistry had a

summer studio in Nainital and a winter studio in Allahabad and used to go to England to teach photography

the decorative dis­

plays that brighten shop fronts at Xmas in that shoppers' mecca. The lordly splendors of the Nalagarh fort in the Simla foothills were highlighted in an ar­ ticle in Holiday Travel India.

"I lovevisiting

unusual places like Argentina, for ex­ ample, and am just dying to go to Iran," says the man who describes himself not as a Delhi Parsi, but as a northIndian Parsi,having spent

*Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.

MATRIMONIAL

Alliance invited for our

29-year-old son working for an American multinational in Delhi. Pretty, non-manglik Parsi girls with good education and family background may apply with a recent photograph(returnable) and full details to:

The Advertiser

Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/16-2000)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001

*Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.

MATRIMONIAL

Zoroastrian parents invite alliance for their only daughter,'74 born, 5'4", B.Com graduate, smart & pretty, doing own business,from

good-looking, well settled Zoroastrian boy hailing from respectable/cultured family based in India/abroad. Family solicits boy to be well settled in business/profession. Please respond with background/photo to:

The Advertiser

Parsiana, Matrimonial (Sept/17-2000)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001

*Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.

36 Parsiana September2000

ins taken on a box camera he found lying

around in the house in the '70s, Dhondy "mustered up enough courage" in 1986 to buy himself a second hand Pentax, a simple manual one which has been around the world with him. "Although I have a Nikon today and a fancy lens and a lot of filters and gizmos and all that stuff, I still feel that some of the best pictures I have ever taken were from that Pentax ... manual camerasmake you think ...that's what really makes a good picture," Dhondytold BetterPhotogra­ phy, January 1998.

With childrenand nature being his

favorite subjects, some of Dhondy's photographs have been publishedin Better Photography's The Black Book,a collection of work by Indian photogra­ phers brought out by Tata Donnelley in May 2000. His first solo exhibition, Sunny Cyprus,was held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in Novem­ ber '99.

The adman with a "wicked sense of humor who tries to be a nice guy"has a quick and unconventional vision which captureson camera a sadhu sitting outside the Babulnath Temple in Bombay reading The Economic Times or photographs the clouds float­ ing by Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi lying prostrate on the road, to

much of his early life in Allahabad, schooling in St Joseph'sand doing his BComand MBA from Allahabad Uni­ versity.

His father, an ex navy man, was "a

terror, who firmlybelieved in the dic­ tum 'sparethe rod and spoil the child,"' smilingly narratesDhondy. "Yet we fully experienced the joys of childhood," he adds,playing cricket, hockey,badmin­ ton, billiards, or cycling for hours to go to the mandi(market) to buy mangoes for the whole familywho were mango freaks! A junior championin billiards in Allahabad, Dhondy still picks up a prize occasionally when time permitsa game of billiards or snooker.

her culinaryskills in KitchenSecrets, business she runs from home, taking or­ ders for Parsi and continental cuisine in­ cluding cakes and desserts,and markets masalas as well. Schoolingin Delhi are children Anahita (I0) and Kurush (five).

"The Parsi communityin Delhi is young and vibrant,and we do a fair bit to keeptradition alive," observesDhondy who believes Parsis in Bombayhave a softy approachto life! "Parsis are an amazing clan, with a high level of talent in almost all fields- professions, poli­ tics, art, music, etc, and I most sincerely hope we survive!"

OBSERVATION

A restaurant and catering businessthrivcs on its reputation. And Dorabjee and SonsRestaurant has an outstanding repu­ tation. Its list of satisfied customersreads like a Who's Who ...But its most valued customers are the common citizens of Poona who eat, enjoy, and keep coming back for more and more.

The unpretentious Dorabjec and Sons,

housed in an old cantonment building

DorabjeeS delectable

dishes

Dorabjees. However,"a lot of non-Zo­ roastrian caterersare hired forParsi func­ tions, even inside the Agiary grounds," laments Marazban. "This does not hap- · pen in Bombay. For that matterother communities do not allow Parsi caterers in their jamatkhanasor for their reli­ gious functions. So why shouldwe?'' he argues. The furthest that Marazban has ever gonefor a catering job is to Mysore

K.

on Dastur Meher Road, has been a well­

known spotforthegourmetandthe

for a dinner hosted by Farokh

Ideal Motors.

Irani of

gourmand. The restaurantis so evoca­ tive of Parsi culture that people of all communities from all overIndia associ­ ate Poonawith this restaurant and cater­ ing business."Fifty percent (of our cli­ ents) are Hindus and 50 percent Mus­ lims," saysDarius, the fourthgeneration fromthe Dorabjee family to join the eatery as he shares the responsibilities with his father Marazban. For many of the non-Zoroastrian diners, this is their first encounterwith reasonably priced Parsi food (among the most expensive items on the menu card arc the mutton and chicken dhansak priced at Rs 60). Are there no Zoroastrian clients?Actu­ allyI0 percent of the patrons would be Parsis,admits Darius.

The most popular items on their menu arc muttonbiryanianddhansakdal.

··we makedhansak dal everyday but mutton and chickendhansak only on tmdays," mentions Darius. Open from LJ.30 a.m. till I0.45 p.m. "we serve kaleji, khccma, eggs, bheja for breakfast," states Marazban, withratesvaryingfromRs

12 to Rs 40. Lunch is offeredbe­ ginning11.30 a.m. and many cus­ tomers like to carryfoodparcels

Marazban (left and alongside) and Darius Dorabjeeat the Poona eatery

Danesh N. Kalyanivala

Specializing in Parsi food, the restaurant and catering businessof Dorabjee

and Sons is patronized by all communities

home. Since thereis no telephone at their restaurant, viewed as "aheadache" by the Dorabjees, patrons have to per­ sonally placean order. "Ourdaytime business is still doing well," declares Darius although competition has eaten into their dinner profits."People these days like lo go to some open-air place (for an evening out)," he observes.

The Dorabjcc father-son duo arc also involved in catering for functions where they find greatercompetition.Atthe gahambars in Poona, it is invariablythe Dorabjees who arc entrusted the cater­ ing. At the functionsorganized by the Zoroastrian Youth Associa­

tion too, the catering is by

For other Zoroastrians desirous of entering the food businessMarazban advises, "If you want to open a restau­ rant you must know cooking. That is essential. I have trained my son Darius the same way that my father Jaltaught me. And my father had been trainedby my grandfather Dorabjee."

The younger brother of Pestonji Chindy who had started a cateringbusi­ ness, Dorabjee steppedinto the elder brother's shoes when he died unexpect­ edly, just before a dinner he had to cater for. From that nightDorabjee, later known as Dorabjee SorabjeeHotelwala, expanded the business, added the res­ taurant and later movedto bigger pre­ mises. His sons changedtheir surname from Chindyto Dorabjee and the name is now synonymous with good food and the Zoroastrian ethos. When the restau­ rant was started in 1918, Dorabjeewas assisted by his son Jal. The old man was blessed with eight sons. After Jal, an­ other son Savak joined them, and then Bruch. In 1936, Ja! opted to start Edward Hotel. Marazbanstarted running the res­ taurant from July 14,1970 after it had

37 Parsiana September 2000

The dining area and kitchenat the popular Dorabjeerestaurant

been closed for six months,Marazban relates. Savak is now involved with the running of Jimmy Lodge, located be­ hindDorabjee and Sons, while his son Hoshang runs Hotel Heritagein Bombay. Dorabjee and Company which now houses the famous Westsidestore is located just diagonally acrossDorabjee and Sons but the two are independent ventures.

During the years he has been in charge 64-year-old Marazbanhas rarely taken

a holiday althoughtwo years ago he did visit his daughter Daisy who is settled in Sydney, Australia.A body builder dur­ ing his younger days, Marazban likes to frequent the Parsi Gymkhanawhenever he can absenthimself from work. De­ scribing himself as a moderatewho has "full respectfor my religion," Marazban reasons, "Nowadays many people marry outside the community. One cannot stop them. One of our priest's daughters got marriedto a non-Parsi. What can any­ one do?''Thirty-year-oldDariuswho used to be a popularmodelandnow handles a major part of the business is

the fatherof two little boys, Ryan and Dallas, both under three years of age.

While the Dorabjeeshave about a dozen loyal employees at their restaurant and hire temporary laborfor their catering business, marketing on every single day is done by either the father or son. All ingre­ dients have to be absolutely fresh, they believe. To this day, almost all their cook­ ing is done on coal, gas stoves being used only for frying. And reposing faith in their culinary skills and largesse are their val­ ued customersand laborforce. The recipe for their continuing success is dedication to values.

all

3736136, 3736194

mobile 98201 33399

38 Parsiana September2000

CINEMA

COVER STORY

Author Bapsi Sidhwa'sview, translated

to celluloid by filmmakerDeepa Mehta, describes the pathos of the Partition

The priceless plate is deliberately bro­ ken by the little girl. The crash and the clangcause the domesticstaff to rush in. But littleLenny refuses to lift her eyes. She is busy observing the fragments and splinters until the arrivalof her mother on the scene. ''I did it," confesses the girl, promptingher mother to envelope her in a warm embrace:"Maari mitthi (sweetheart), you spoke the truth."

Thesmashing of one plate was no significantloss to the mother when the ingrainedZoroastrian emphasis on hon­ esty surfaced. She does not even enquire how and why it happened but the child interpolates: "Can a countrybe broken in the same way?" Aghast,the mother can only offera halfhearted, unconvinc­ ing denial. The film 1947 Earth thus attempts to depict the tragedy and ago­ nies accompanying the Partition of In­ dia as seen through the eyes of Lenny, an eight-year-old Parsi girl (playedby Maia Sethna, daughter of the late thespian Farida Peddar and Jam shed Sethna) stay­ ing in a luxurious bungalow in Lahore, surroundedby her well-meaning par­ ents, Bunty (Kitu Gidwani) and Rustom (ArifZakaria), a supportive ayah (maid,

40 Pars/ana September 2000

Parinaz M. Gandhi

Nand ita Das) and her brood of admirers of different castes and creeds. Little Lenny hasa soft corner for ice candies as also the effusive and genial ice candy man (played by Aamir Khan) who ulti­ mately betraysher trust.

The Parsis per se did not directlyget embroiled in the political conflicts aris­ ing out of Partition for they were willing to stay on wherethey were residingand support whoever came to power, as tact­ fully explained by Lenny's father.While a disruption in their business and distur­ bance around them wasinevitable, there was no lastingdestruction, dismember­ ing of bodiesand debasing of human and religious valuesas was the case for the Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.

Andyet the impressions of the mind­ less carnage were significant to remain as a lastingmemory for even the periph­ eral observers. For Lenny was in real life the authorBapsi Sidhwa whose bookThe Ice-Candy-Man published in 1990 and republished as Cracking India had inspiredDeepa Mehta to film it. The $

3.2 millioncelluloid epic won the Grand

Prize at the Deauville Panasian Film Festival in France, was chosen as the

Indian entryfortheOscarAcaJcmy Awards for the Best ForeignFilm for 1999, and was nominated as one of the top 10 filmsof 1999 byLondon's Timeout magazine, according to infor­ mation displayed on different websites.

Reported Mehta on the website "1947 Earth": "Lenny's was an entirelyunique

perspective. It came from within an im­ part;al community, but was also the point of view of a child who learned about love, war,destruction and betrayal within a span of a few months. I wanted desper­ ately to make Cracking India into a film ...which would be the second in my trilogy of the elementsof Fire, Earth and Water. Tracing Bapsiwas no easy task but persevere we did and soon I was talking to Bapsi on the phone, hoping that the film rightsto her book were still available. Two months later, thanks to David Hamilton'sunwavering belief in the project,we owned the rights, had development funds, and I was sittingat my kitchen table, writingthe screenplay of 1947...

"During this phase Bapsi becamea

friendand was exceedingly generous with information and old photographs. She would talk with me for hours about what it was like growing up in Lahore during those times ...The irony of our situation hasn't escaped Bapsi or my­ self. Bapsi is from Pakistan and now a US citizen, I'm from India and now living in Canada. If neither ofus had moved from our respective homelands, the film just wouldn't have been pos­ sible... My father and his family were some of the ll million people that were uprooted from their homesduring Parti­ tion. I grew up hearing storiesabout this particularholocaust, the carnage,the rapes and the mindless acts of violence

The women behindthe film: Mehta (left)and Sidhwa with stars

Middle row (from left) Zakariaand Khan;

Bottom (from left) Khanna, Das, Sethna and Gidwani

Facing page (left):Gidwani flees with Sethna during a riot scene;

(right): Sidhwa

(seated) on the sets

41 Parsiana September 2000

that people who had lived togetherin relative harmony for centuries commit­ ted against each other-all in the name of religion and nationalism."

"I neverthought anyone would take

up thedauntingtaskofmaking ita film," stated Sidhwa in an interview with Out­ look, January 17, 2000, adding, "But Deepa did, so she was ready for the challenge. Itneededan act

of courage. I'm very

its own merit, integrityand

rhythm. It can'tbe the

book. And this one in par­ ticular was not easy to

translate. It's very com-

Times of India early this year. The grand­ mother who guides the little girl in the book through the horror and violence of Partitionwas also missing in the screen version, pointedout Sidhwa.

When asked whether she'd like her other books to be filmed,Sidhwa replied in the affirmative, adding that Shyam Benegal has evincedan interest in adapt-

changing environment, a little bit like the chameleons or lizards in their gar­ den. She also goes on to repeat the farpous sugar-in-the-milk story wherein the Parsis on landing in India had prom­ ised the local ruler to dissolve like sugar while enrichingthe environment. Now knowledgeable, Lenny gives a nod of understanding: "Weare not bum-tickers,

we are invisible." Barring these few interludes be­ tween the family members in English and Gujarati,the rest of the film is in Hindi.

The grim realitiesand

profound philosophies are

plexandlayered."Initially ';> 'A'O'ft;;. ,' IticaiQ(ii'al'd'' t:Jtitwe J1:, ""

!: :;aon sc;::, a : : , ! 1Pv<i:tP 9$j1J ,;,_'

gether until Sidhwa felt

mouthed by all and sun­ dry for Partition is going to touch them all. The smug Britishofficer who

she shouldnot interfere for Mehta had "her own vision, differentfrom my own more nebulousone... The book's writ­ tenfrom a child's perspective and so I felt a voice-over was needed, but Deepa

wanted the child's presencethroughout with low camera angles for perspective. And the little girl, Lenny, did splen­

didly."

In fact, youngMaia "who is utterly

naturaland uninhibited in front of the camera," was declared"the find of the film," by Sunday Mid-Day, September 12, 1999. "It was audacious of Aamir Khan to take on the role of Oil Nawaz (ice candy man) and he has given a remarkably balanced performance. Rahul Khanna (son of actor Vinod Khanna)has a striking screen presenceand charming demeanor(as Hasan, the masseur), but he needs to loosenup a bit. ..NanditaDas suits her role (of ayah) perfectlyand gives Shanta an attractive pertness ..."added the Mid-Day critic. The Sunday Times of India (September 12, 1999) describedEarth as"a tragic romance,cleverly and conscientiously constructed, leaving you with the feel­ ing of getting your time's,money's and intelligence's worth."

While the film reducedthe ice candy manto a villain, in the book Sidhwahad conceptualized him "as a representative of the commonman and tried to show how evil lies close to the surface of normalcy in ordinary individuals. When there is anarchy,the evil spurts,but as soon as things settle down, he reverts to his natural, normal state of goodness," she had relatedin an interview with The

42 Parsiana September 2000

ing The Crow Eaters while Ismail Mer­

chant is keen to make a film based on The Bride. Working on her next book, a collection of short stories,she was con­ currently involvedin converting The Crow Eaters and AnAmericanBratinto plays.

"We have to put Partition behind us,"

the Karachi-born authorwas quoted in The Times of India, especially since vin­ dictive efforts to destabilize each other "willonly bring ruin to both" India and Pakistan, observed Sidhwa, an active social worker among Asian women. In an interviewwith The Earth Times, Mehta noted,"We hoped that the col­ laboration on the film would be the beginning of a much needed non-politi­ cal dialog betweenthe two peoples. A greater grassroots awareness from the people who live in thecountries and then a commitment to ensure that mind­ less violencedoesn'thappen again. Poli­ ticians have their own agendas(and sometimes war is good for the economy!)

-this type of changemust come from the people."

A willingness to change and adapt,

an attribute that characterizes the Parsis, earns an amusing referencein Earth too. As Bunty tries to initiateher polio af­ flicted daughter to the ecstacies of ball­ room dancing, an innocent looking Lenny repeats to her mother a commentshe has heard on the community: "Parsis are bum-tickers of the British." "Soo (what)?" says the mother agape and then recovers her composureto explain to Lennythat due to their paucityof num­ bers, the Parsis have to adapttothe

will soon be departing from the shores

of the colony warns his Indian friends at a dinner table,"You won't be able to blame everything on us for long." On theissue of whether Lahore would go to India or Pakistan, a commonerspeaks up, "Wholistens to the people? It is money which will talk."

To protect their own lives or of those they lovedtherewerecountlesswho

were compelled to forsake their family, their religion, their land. And even after making sacrifices they had to face the

ignominy of torture and ridicule. Fortu­ nately for the Parsisthey were spared this mindlessdevastation in their adopted homeland but the scenario was all too familiar, reminiscent of the persecution the Zoroastrians had faced at the hands of the Muslims in Iran over a millen­ nium ago.

Their education and value systems had set apart the Parsis in India from the other communities. Lenny does not know that caramel custardis not on the menu of a roadside stall; nor can she under­ stand why her littleHindu friend is made to marry a man more thanfive times her age. Yet, as she seeks help from her cousinto tear her favorite doll into two, shecan comprehend that the riftwill create irreparable damage. Soeven while they were cocoonedin their comfort­able lifestyle, Parsis were able to empa­ thize and share in the joys and sorrows of others.And any role that theyhad consciously or unwittingly playedto support or stifle members of sister com­ munities was to remain a hauntingmemory for the rest of their lives.

PATHS TO PROGRESS

continued from page 32

tee met every week betweenJuly 1999

to April 2000 to prepare the ground­ work for the program, she declared and so much do they enjoy the pro­ gram that many an HPYite has put to her the question,"Can I be an orga­ nizer next year?"

Wearing the crowns as Mr and Ms HPY this year were Shehzad Dastoor and Tina Kavarana.Rathushtra Mer­ chant, DilzeenTantra,ArminPalia

EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES

continued from page18

Zoroastrian Youth Associations of In­ dia.

Dogged relief

"If a dog gets love, most of his problems

willbe solved," is the philosophy adopted by Bombay-based Zawareh Daruwala who rescues abandonedpedigree dogs, trains them as guard dogs and gets them 'employment' in companieslike Si­ emens, Nicholas Piramal andColour

capable dogs. He has known of dogs being discarded because of their hostilityto one of the familymembers, or because of a serious skin problem or when theycontracterlichia, adiseasesimilar toAIDS,

not sexuallytransmit­ ted but caused by tick bites which ruin the dog's immune system.

He is aware that street dogs too can be trained as good guard dogs but he rues that

and Kavaranawerethewinnersin

their respective groups. "Ihave made so many friends at HPY it is really

Chern. During the six years he has been 'hiring' dogs he must have trained over 45 abandonedcanines, notes an article

Daruwala: trains guards

corporates don't want strays, only good­

looking dogs.

upsetting to leave," Palia, a boarderat

Bandra's Avabai Petit School, whose family resides in Dhranghdra in Gujarat, toldParsiana. "The program has taught me to be a leadaer," opined tall Rayumand Irani from Poona.

"After 14 years,the program is in its

prime, well-seasoned and tempered," stated Marfatia, as always crispin dress and speech and in controlof almost 200 noisy youngsters. Next year, HPY will have a new logo,a new motto and a new

in Outlook, May 29, 2000. "There is never a bad dog,onlybadowners,"

stated Daruwalawho has observed that abandoninga dog could cause it to tum

hostile and start biting people because these domesticated creatures cannot sur­ vive on the streets.

People fromBombay, Poona, Goa and Baroda have dumpedtheir dogs on 35- year-oldDaruwala, a professional trainer.While he has been trainingdogs since

1983, since 1994 he has taken it up as a

Earlier mistakenfor a smuggler for

he alwayshas a dog at his heels, an image reinforced by Hindi films,Daru­ wala had to set right the misconcep­ tion, he joked.Training them, he be­ lieves, is a divine gift bestowed upon him. His residence at Dadar(604-C. LakshmiNiwas, Lady JehangirRoad, Dadar,Bombay 400014, Tel: 4120433) therefore servesas an un­ usualschool, one that takes in canines as pupils.

T-shirt design, she promised, for the

full-time profession, signing contracts

HPY of the new millennium.

with reputedcompanies to providethem

Compiled by Parinaz M. Gandhi

CORRECTION

In the August 2000 issue of Parsiana there was an inadvertent mistake in the identification of Soli Shapurjeein the photograph published on page 44 ("When religionsunite," Zoroastrians Abroad).

Thecorrect caption should read as: From left: Rohinton Rivetna,Dolly Dastoor, KhorshedJungal­ wala, Roshan Dalal, Rusi Dalal, Ervad Parvez Bajan and Soli Shapurjee.

The error is regretted.

43 Parsiana September 2000

Kit'\9 of Catet'et's C\odiwalla's Neville

Set'Vice with a smile

'Fo all }!Ol.t

I I I I

Ql.\SpiCIOl.\5 OCCQSIOt'\5

Bie o small

* C\ive s ¥.o b deet and we will t o in*

Telephone: 3775360, 3775842, 3717036

Fax: 91 022 373 2022

E-mail: ushtate@bomS.vsnl.net.in

Sai Niketan, 'B' Wing 13/13, 345 Mount Road, Mazgaon, Mumbai 400010

CINEMA

Hail

Parinaz M. Gandhi

The children's film Halo starring Benaf Dadachanji has won eight national

and international awards

sheenjoyed the camaraderie with the unit which was "like a small family. Everyone was so sweetand down-to­ earth. There was no spotboy (adoles­ cents who run minor errandson the sets) or anything...Sivan is more a cinema­ tographer than an art director," she adds knowledgeably.

When the film was being shot she had

to report at the sets every day after school got over and return home around 9 p.m. She enjoyed portraying the char­

Thatcharismatic smile could well be little BenafDadachanji' s trademark. The same endearing grin we had seen on the screen,the same cherub face that had regularly peered out of

newspapers announcing the release of the award

winning, tax-free, child­ ren's film Halo, greets us on the day of our inter­

view.

Yet, "many people don't recognize me be­

cause I've grown big and fat. My teeth have also grown," says the unas­ suming 13-year-old Benaf who had played the star of the moviewhen she was but six years old and now "finds it awk­

ward" if she is identifiedas the heroine.

She mentions that director Santosh

Sivan had seen a video snippet of hers as a child model at BaJa and Karnikar' s advertising agency.Then he asked to see Benaf in person when "hejust told me to smile and took photos," she re­ calls. Benaf is aware that it was her disarmingsmile that won her the plum role in Halo in1994. She relates in a matter-of-fact way that the following year she was declared the best child artiste at the Ninth International Children'sFilm Festival in Hyderabad, that she won the V. Shantaram A ward for best child artiste, also the specialjury award at anotherfilms festival and yet again recognition at the Canada Children's Film Festival. Thereafter, on every Children's Day (November 14) the film has been telecaston Door­ darshan,she adds.

Scenes from Halo: Dadachanji enjoyingthe puppy (above) and being grilled by the police (right)

44 Parsiana September 2000

She was not however able to explain why the screening of Halo for over 10 weeks in several theatersin Bombay during the summerholidays this year

was announced as the

launch of the film.Nor did she know why it had been granted atax-free status this time.

After Halo, Benaf

was also signed for films like China Gate where she plays the role of avillage girl in a star cast that included box office names like Naseeruddin Shah, and Nazrana where she portrays a girl from a Catholic family dur­

ing Christmas. Althoughshe keeps get­ ting offers to do roles inteleserials, pres­ ently Benaf has opted to concentrate on studies.

Which of the three moviesdid she

enjoy shooting for? "Halo," prompt comes the reply, "It was my first,and the best." During the 29 days of shooting

acter of a charming little girl Sasha in a household that dotes on her.The ab­ sence of a mother was meant to be com­ pensated with the arrivalof a pup, Halo, in her life. It made sense in the story line. But to little Benaf the pup proved to be the bane of her life. "Ihate dogs. I'm scared of animals," she says vehemently. "They kept telling me I would get used to it, but I didn't," she still recalls.

How then did she manage to relate

with the canineand play the cuddlesome, frolickyparts? She was petrified of the first pup who was broughton the sets, she frankly admits."It was teethingand wanted to bite into everything." So they replaced that dog with another one who, fortunately for Benaf, was content to doze through most of the scenes. Of course, the major portion of the 100- minute film dwellson her searchfor Halo who just disappears one day.

Shesummons help from family and friends, the editor of a newspaper and the police commissioner as she stoically en­ counters riotsand even a mad dogcatcher, moves over bridges and rocks, through tunnels and pipes to find the impossible. During the searchwhich seems unending there are moments of comic reliefas when

one of her friendsimpresses on her the need to "bepoliti­ cal" when she means "be prac­ tical." And the irony is that while the police look on help­ lessly, it is the streeturchins who keep her optimistic. The children's movie is broughtto a close with a messageof sac­ rifice taught not by words, but by the deeds of young Sasha.

Mugging the dialogin Hindi was not difficult for Benaf. It was the crying that she was supposed to do in the last scene that did not come

naturally. Finally, her mother Maharukh

gave her a pinch,the first time in her life, that reduced Benaf to tears and evoked

Anne's at inter-school or dis­ trict level meets. Table tennis is one game she has not been ahle to masteras she hits the ball too hard, she points out. Training with Shiamak Davar's dance troupe is a must every vacation time. She is fairlyregular with her swimmingtoo either at the Radio Club or at Body Rhythm, she mentions.

A daily visit to the agiary

comes naturally to this teen­ ager who stays in the com­ pound of the Jeejcebhoy

,....,...- 111111111111• - Dadabhoy Agiary atColaba,

Ananxious Dadachanji (left)sum- her father Farokhbeingthemanager

mons help when her puppy disappears there. Mother Maharukhworksfor J.

M. MorganStanleyandyounger

the patheticexpression that Sivan was seeking.

How much did all this effort earn her? "Mymom handles all that," she reports. "Shedoesn't tell me and I don't even want to know. HI want something, I ask for it and get it," Benaf is content with her lot.

Already the film has inspiredthe creation of a website(www .halo thefilm.com) where one can access the story, the trailer, obtain information on

the director, make trade enquiries, and even have fun with the puzzles and maze pieces which have to be solved.

An VIIIstandard student at Bombay's

St Anne's School facing considerable academic pressure, Benafsays presently she wouldn'tbe able to cope with both lessons and acting since most of the shooting is done in the suburbs.She does though make time for games, play­ ing basketball, football, carrom,hand­ ball, cricket, throwball, representing St

brother Bezad studiesin standard IV at CampionSchool.

Shewould like to find her niche in the

world of films and advertising where there are very few Parsis."I want to open my own advertising agency and direct films. Ad shooting doesn't go on and on. After two days it gets over," she explains the rationale.Blessed with a face that could help launch a film, Benaf may well dare to dream and wake up to the realities of a new medium.

ZORO GARMENTS

PRIVATE LIMITED

(An Eligible ExportHouse Recognised by the Govt. of India)

Manufacturers and Exporters of Readymade Garments,Made-Ups&Fabrics

Address: C-3, Industrial Estate, Arnbattur, Chennai600058 Phone: 0091-44-6252416/6252497/6256215Fax: (0091) 44-6257789

E-Mail: zoro@vsnl.com

46 Parsiana September 2000

MILESTONES

This issue of Parsiana publishes intercommunity marriagesreg­ isteredboth at the Old Customs House and at the MHADA of­ Ike in Bandra (East)for the nine­ month period of December 1999 to August2000. However, names that couldnot be confirmed as Zoroastrian have been omitted from the list.

The Old CustomsHouse reg­ istered 39 intercommunity mar­ riages plus one civil marriage, whereas the figures at the MHADA officewere 26 and two respectively.

A scanningoftheChan­

danwadi crematorium registers revealed the names of 16 Zoro­ astrians crematedbetween April 1999 and August 2000.

As per the data collectedby Parsiana there were 78 Zoroas­ trians who were consignedto the Towers of Silence as compared

to 19 babies born in the month ofAugust 2000. The major killer

-heart disease-took a toll of 21 lives of whom nine were 80 years and above. Pneumonia and lungdisease felled 12 victims whereas six fell prey to septice­ mia. Five Zoroastrians each died due to cancer, brain disease and hypertension. Liver disease and old age/general debility claimed three patients each and asthma, diabetes, urinarytract infection, multi organ failure and obesity, two each.The isolated cases reg­ istered for August were hy­ pokalemia (abnormally low po­ tassium level of blood), kidney failure, Alzheimer's disease, os­ teoporosis (loss of bone density due to excessive absorption of calciumand phosphorus from the bone),pyometra (pus retained in the uterus and unable to es­ cape throughthe cervix), athero-

sclerosis (deposition of fatty sub­ stances in the arteries), filiarial elephantiasis (infestation with a parasitic, thread-like worm caus­ ing swellingof a limb, usually aleg),hcmiplcgia(paralysis of one side of the body),head injury due to drowning and paralysis. Three youths,all in their early thirties, were lost to the commu­ nity. Theeldest to breathehis last was a I 03-year-old male. The Zoroastrian life expectancy at birth for August,in Bombay, was 75 years.

The data on births, mar­ riages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newslet­ ters and anjumans in India and abroad, courtsand hospitals. This information is not always complete or consistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anjumans do not fur-

nish the particulars; the birth figures for Bombay are sup­ plied by two hospitals- births in suburban hospitals and pri­ vate nursinghomes arc not in­ cluded unlessindividuals send us information together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the mar­ riage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. In the breakup of deaths ac­cording to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of sev­ eral diseases.

If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they wouldlike published, some proof to ensure the veracityof the report would be required. We arc sure our readers would appreciate this re­ quirement and cooperate with us.

47Parsiana September 2000

48 Pars/ana September 2000

Manekshana (53), 784-A, Readymoney Bldg, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar 400014:

August 13

fer Phiroze Popat (94),

I -B/17. Tata Mills Co-opHsgSoc, ElphinstoneRd, Pare!, 40001 2; August I 3

Medyoma Savaksha Tanksallwala (64), 14, Grand Paradi, August Kranti Marg, 400036: August 14

Nergish Rusi Writer(68), Room no 40, Ahmed Bldg,Gunpowder Rd,

Mazagaon, 400010; August 14 MargarethaH. M. Wadia­ Hendriks (70), 23, Thakur Nivas, 173, J. Tata Rd,

400020; August I 5 (cremated)

Minoo Edulji Wadia (87),

DI-85, S. B. BharuchaBaug, Andheri (W), 400058;

August 15

Shahbehram Boman Kermani (80), I. Kanga Bldg, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; August 16

Hossi Cawasha Hansotia(72),

B/45, Meghdoot, Koldongari, Off Sahar Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; August 17

FIGURES AT A GLANCE*

Bombay India World

•Running totalsfor 1999 (January1999-September 2000 issues) oRunning totalsfor 2000 (January 2000-September 2000 issues)

Overseas deathsare listed in the consignedcolumn as Parsiana does not have a breakupof those cremated.

*These figures pertain to information providedto or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births,marriages and deathsin the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad.

ofCmeen and father of Rukshana,Nazneen and Zubin; July 30

SECUNDERABAD

Bombay: The Telling Figures

Intercommunity marriages down to 22 percent

DIED

Keki Ratansha Pilcher(67), husband of Najamaiand father of Cyrus, Faliboze,Jahangir and Behroz Vispy Patell; August 2

Minocher Temulji Markar (84), husband of Perin and father of Guloo, Coomie and Bapsi; August 28

SURAT

DIED

Pirojshaw Cooverji Dordi (84), Pandole Charity Block, Village Siganpore,Dist Surat; July 17

Homai Maneckji Umriger(83), Athuger St, Nanpura,395001; July 25

Alamay Rustamji Dadina (73),

12/2897. Bibini Wadi, Sayedpura,395003; July 31 Perin Keki Daruwala(73), Archit Apt, Kotwal St, Nanpura, 395001:August I

Compiled by Roxana A. Driver

i

I

I I

I

The number of intercommunity

marriages registered by Zoroas­ trians in Bombayin 1999 were 74, down by 45 from the preced­ ing year's total of 119. There were an equal number of males and females, 37 each, who opted fornon-Zoroastrian spouses. The number of community marriages, 261, declined by just one from the 1998 total of 262. Thus the percentage of intercommunity marriageswhich was 31 in 1998 has reducedto 22 in 1999 if calculated as a ratio of intercom­ munity marriages to the total number of marriages (74:335). If calculated as a ratio of inter­ community marriages to com­ munity marriages (74:261), the percentage has come down to 28 from last year's 45.

Not only have the total num­ ber of marriages declinedin 1999 in Bombay,the numberofb:rtns and deaths too have fallen.As compared to last year's total of 208 births. there were only 11:

births in 1999, fewer by 37. For

data on births, only two hospi­ tals in central Bombay assist us collatedata. While the number of females born were 94. up by twofrom last year's total of 92, the number of males born were 77, a declineof 39 as compared to the precedingyear's total of 116.

The death count in the com­ munity in 1999 was 945 as com­ pared to 1,012 in 1998, a decline of 67. There were 455 males and

477 females consigned at

Bombay's Towers ofSilence against lastyear's total of 481 and 513 respectively. There were fewer males, eight, and females, five, who opted for cremation in 1999. The figures for 1998 were 11 and seven respectively. Our data on cremation thoughis re­ tricted to the recordsaccessible

&t the Chandanwadi cremato­ rium.

Just as deaths among the fe­

males, 482. were higher by 19

than the male count of 463, girls

born, 94, exceeded the count of boys born, 77, by 17.

Since the list of those con­ signed at the Doongerwadi, sent to us by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. mentionsthe age at death, we have been able to cal­ culate the Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) as 76. The highest LEB, 80, was in the month of May, and the lowest, 73 in the month of August 1999.

Mentioned below are the 1999 figurespertaining to the BombayZoroastrian community as collectedby Parsiana.

Born:171

Boys 77, Girls 94

Marriages: 335

Parsi 261

Intercommunal 74

Died: 945

Consigned: 932

Males 455, Females 477

Cremated: 13

Males 8, Females 5

I

I

II INGERSOLL-RAND

I I

I I Ingersoll-Rand Ondia) Limited, Rh8ne-Poulenc House, S. K. Ahire Marg, P. 0. Box 9138,

I Mumbai- 400 025. Tel: 022-493 6765, Fax: 022-495 0516.

I

50Parsiana September 2000

IN MEMORIAM

Feared and favored

Parinaz M. Gandhi

Died: Jal BomanjiContractor, 78, fanner deputy commissioner of police and founder of Jals' Detective and Protec- tion Servicesas also Jals' Consultancy Services, on May 19, 2000 in Bombay following a prolonged illnesscompli­ cated by diabetes,kidney failure and gangrene.

Many arc the stories told of how Contractor nabbed gangsters and dacoits, quelled riots and mobs dur­

ing his 38 years of duty to emerge as one of the most respected policeofficers in Bombay. And many arc the people who would attest to his timely help and wise counsel.

Recalling his "kind and

considerate" nature,in their

mancc ... he was in charge of zone which meant handling all the political and tradeunion processions to the Coun­ cil Hall, a task he handledwith great finesse. In fact, on his verylast day in the police force...we saw him controlling a DattaSamantmorchaof5,00,000pcoplc moving towards the Council Hall. His service record shows 27 appreciations, 110 good entries, 163 commendatory

letters and cash awards ofRs 2,500 ..." The highest recog­ nition he had won from the police was the Indian Police Service Medal in 1966, ac­ cording to a family source.

Among the notorious

criminals successfully nab­ bed by Contractorwas one impostor whoposed as a

tancy Services acceptingsecurity as­ signments, investigation work, surveil­ lance, advisoryand consultancy jobs ... As he had candidlyadmitted in After­ noon,"Actually it was more or less what I used to do when Iwas with the Bombay police. The difference is that then I was paid a salary by the government, now I charge for the services." Describing his work as "a gentleman's business," he added, "wetake no chance of infringing the rights of people or the law ..." Refer­ ring to his long working clay,he had disclosed to the paper, "My wife gets angry becauseeven now I seldom reach homebefore 7.30 p.m. and even then I may get down to some work or try and catch up on my reading."

"He was a workaholic," confirms his

wife Suberwhomhehadmarriedin

condolence JetterBanoo and Dhunji Siclhwaof Regal Theatre referred tohis

Contractor: in promincntMarwari merchant

command in the '70s and duped thecity'sdiamond

merchants of eight lakh ru­

1984, four years after his retirement. As dedicated as he was to his official re­ sponsibilities, he was equallyconscious

"guidance (which)was a great help to us and to our business." Noted social worker Scylla Vatchawrote, "I will always re­ member Jalbhai's immense help, so will­ ingly given...my gratitude to him is ev­ erlasting." She also referredto the visionary's role in the development of the Salsette Parsis' Association housing colony at Andheri commenting, "It was his conception whereby so many fami­ lies havewonderful homes, wherea new generation of children can grow up with dignity."

Corroborated his friends Jimmy and

Khorshed Mody of UK, "Akind, gentle and generoushuman bcing ...he would help any Zarathushti. Therewas no work too (troublesome) for him."

Atribute in the Afternoon Despatch

and Courierof June 5, 2000 noted,

"Contractor. ..was an example of what a police officershouldbe.Big,broad, tough as nails, fearless, down-to-earth, incorruptible, he was our favorite police­ man ...Most of his years he spent with the elite crime branch and he was in charge of what was known as the Anti Goonda Branch. The very name created fear in the minds of the underworld. As deputy commissioner, a rank to which he rose through hard work and efficient perfor-

51Pars/ana September 2000

pees. In the Kedia murdercase, he traced

the killer as a hirelingof a mill magnate. Contractor had come to the notice of the Bombay public as early as 1946-47when a tribal gang of 140 members committed 40 dacoities and 60 burglaries in the city andmofussil areas, as reported in the Free Press Journalin 1980.

When he retired from theforce in

1980, Contractor had confessed, "I feel as if I have been releasedfrom prison ... Every minute of my life was shackled to the constantdemands made by my pro­ fession. Even ifl took a quick lunch at a hotel, I had to leave behind a call num­ ber." As Contractor had acknowledged in an interview with Afternoon in 1987, "When I was with the Bombaypolice ...! don't think I took more than I0 days off at a time, and that too very, very seldom. But there was satisfaction in doing what I did. And the rapport I shared with people was tremendous." On his retire­ ment from service, his special relation­ ship with the Pressearned him honorary membership of the Bombay Crime Re­ porters' Association.

His line of duty did not stop with his dissociation from the policeforce. He started his business, Jals' Detective and Protection ServicesandJals'Consul-

of his familialcommitments. His three

younger brothers, Nari, Dorab and Dinyar to whom he was more a father than a brother, were married and settled in life before he thought of his own comfort, mentionsSuber. "He was like a real father to Binaifer (Suber'sdaugh­ ter by her first marriage)," she states.

Their marriage accordedthem sev­ eral enjoyabletravel opportunities which he had denied himself during his bach­ elor days, says Suber. Earlier the reli­ gious minded Contractor's out-of­ Bombay tripswere restricted to his regu­ lar sojournsto Udvada. Daily prayers for halfan hour were a must for Contrac­ tor notwithstanding his busy schedule. With his conservative leanings, he was alwaysadvising Binaifertomarry within the community, recalls Suber.

Contractor, whose fatherwas a farmer in MadhyaPradesh had reminisced about his humble beginnings in an interview

withTheTimesofIndia.His life in

Bombay had started in a one-room ten­ ement and during his teenage years he would repair punctured cycle tyrcs at his grand-uncle's shop.He studied at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable (BJPC) Institution and did two years of science at St Xavier's College. When