The annual pilgrimage

"It was here that our destiny started, where we gave a commitment to mingle with (the local) society and its mores but not try to convert or take to arms. (We are) proud of having enriched India,” noted Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) senior trustee and president of the Forum of Free Enterprise Minoo Shroff in his response to the scroll of honor and memento (a replica of the Sanjan Stambh) presented to him by Rohintan Daviervala, presi­dent of the Sanjan Memorial Column Local Committee (SMCLC) at the annual Sanjan Day gathering on November 20, 2001.

Shroff was being felicitated for the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon — Japan’s highest civilian award — conferred on him by the Japanese Emperor for his long years of service in the cause of Indo-Japanese commercial relations. The multi-pronged star glittering on his chest, the econo­mist and management expert had been interviewed by four TV channels ere the function began.

"We feel privileged to honor you on the sacred soil of Sanjan which gave shelter to our forefathers (1285) years back; and from where we gradually migrated to Surat and then (Bombay). This occasion is therefore most appropriate as you are a worthy son of the soil of Surat and (Bombay),” noted the citation read by Daviervala, which also commended the love and support of Shroff’s wife Villoo. Unfortunately an eye infection had prevented Villoo from coming to Sanjan.

Referring to other communities’ perception of Parsis as "more committed, more loyal,” which Shroff dubbed "the sheet anchor of (our) community,” the vice chairman of Raymond Limited spoke of his own professional experiences, being given a blank cheque in negotiations and never questioned as to his decisions. "A lot of credit goes to the fact that being a Parsi rouses this level of comfort among other communities. It is the track record of the community,” he acknowledged.

Shroff also referred to the approximately 20 Parsis left in Porbun­der, who had assured him that they never felt isolated because more than 400 Gujarati friends come to meet and felicitate them on Navroz and Diwali.

Clockwise from far left: Homage at the Stambh (Photo: Arnavaz S. Mama); Chaiyé Hamé Zarathushti (L to R) Davier-vala, Shroff, Tirandaz, Tamboly, Dastur and Marzban Wadia (Photo: Simin J. Patel); Shroff with the memento; (L to R) Bachi and Dinshaw Tamboly with Shroff (Photo: Arnavaz S. Mama); (L to R) Noshir Medhora, Mehli Colah, Pervin and Behram Dastur and Godrej Dotivala (Photo: Simin J. Patel)

Looking to the future, Shroff assessed the commu­nity’s assets and liabilities in the context of per­sistent calls for reservation for higher education and jobs. Along with the aforementioned reputation he added the fluency in English and the aptitude for the profes­sions on the credit side; the depletion of wealth and courage and "stagnant if not shrinking numbers” on the debit side. Noting that "95 percent of new enterprises have succeeded in small, knowledge-based industries,” Shroff told the gathering that "the future seems promising if you have the courage, will and strength to work.” He also referred to the new venture capital scheme of the BPP which aims at "minimizing risk with proper counselling.”

Solicitor and community activist Burjor Antia described Sanjan Day as "the day to audit our accom­plishments and remember the stalwarts of the past.” We came with only "faith, religious guidance and spiritual resolve (and) created our wealth,” he noted, adding in minor key what he considered the diminution of our strengths: the slow disavowal of the sudreh-kusti and manthravani, smoking and the visiting of alien shrines. "To protect and keep the community alive is the duty of the youths. They should marry early and produce more children ... give them knowledge of the religion and community history,” he urged, adding, "Awaken, stand united, do something for the living, don’t fight for the disposal of the dead.”

Welcoming the gathering Duke’s Hotel patriarch and SMCLC member Dosabhai Oliaji had registered his concern against intermar­riage. "Today we complain against it after attending the reception celebrating such events,” he noted in dismay.

BPP trustee Rustom Tirandaz referred to the migra­tion of Zoroastrians to India as one "to save the Saraswati of the Zarathushtis;” the later migrations to the West "to acquire wealth...to save Laxmi.”

He was challenged by BPP chief executive Behram Dastur: "In our religion there is no dichotomy between Laxmi and Saraswati because in our religion there is no austerity, only that wealth should be garnered honest­ly. Let us have faith in our own religion!” Dastur also lambasted the controversy over the donation of eyes on death: "There is nothing in our scriptures (to say) whether eyes can or cannot be donated!”

Mazdayasnie Monasterie founder Meher Master Moos congratulated the Committee "for bringing the com­munity together year after year” and told the audience that 3.5 million Tajiks with tokham kyani (which Tiran­daz referred to as "genes” and which Shroff dubbed "lineage or legacy”) are in need of mobeds and agiaries. They have transliterated the Gathas and the Avesta and are looking to the BPP for help, she noted.

In his vote of thanks Daviervala acknowledged the cooperation of the Western Railway which not only ensured that the Gujarat Express to and from Bombay stopped at Sanjan that day to enable Parsis from the metropolis as well as the cities of Gujarat to attend, but put up billboards at all stations upto Vasai an­nouncing the same over the week preceding the event.

The day, which had begun with two consecutive jashans performed by mobeds from Udvada and the reading of messages from the governor of Gujarat and other notables by Saronda’s Homi Palsetia and SMCLC treasurer Gustasp Jussawala ended with the customary rendition of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathosti and a scurry toward the lunch tables for the appetising vegetarian meal catered by Maneck Todiwalla.