Geared up in Poona

Of the 1,269 members eligible to vote from the Donor, Life and Ordinary membership categories, 670 members cast their vote at the Poona Parsee Panchayat (PPP) elections on November 30, 2003, according to a press release from the Panchayat. With some ballot papers being declared invalid, the total number of valid votes were 653. Although there are 1,688 members on the register of the PPP, "about 419 Ordinary Members became non-eligible to vote due to non-payment of subscription,” mentions the write-up.

Since the election of all seven trustees of the PPP is held at the same time an eligible voter can cast a vote for one or more candidates on one ballot sheet. Of the 12 contending candidates, the seven to be elected to the trust board for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2004 are: Dara K. Irani who won 505 votes, Firdaus N. Kayani, 504, Tehmasp K. Bharucha 456, Porusasp D. Mehta, 407, Jamshed S. Bokdawalla, 379, Adil E. Sarondewala, 351, and Hoshang N. Dorabjee, 342. The five candidates who were not successful were Viraf R. Thanawalla with 285 votes, Rumy P. Mehta, 242, Homai K. Falati, 150, Parvez J. Gandevia, 57, and Nozer R. Irani, 47.

The elections at the Padumjee Hall, Kadmi and Shahenshahi Agiary, Synagogue Street, were conducted by the presiding officer Dr Khodu Irani with the assistance of two polling officers Noshir A. Daver and Gev S. Dalal. The voting started at 9 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m. Following the counting and cross checking by the eight scrutinizers — Ervad Kersi S. Karakaria, Dunyar Captain, Faramroze Taraporewalla, Sarosh D. Mistry, Vispi J. Karkaria, Abaraza J. Framji, Shahanaz Taraporewalla and Kersi Masalawalla — the results were declared at 4 p.m.

The professional standing and community involvement of each of the incumbents was provided by the Panchayat office:

Elected to his fifth term as trustee Irani is one of the leading lawyers of Poona. He has served as chairman of the Panchayat for six years and as vice chairman for two years. Committed to the cause of the needy members of the community he has been jointly responsible for many projects of the Panchayat as has been Kayani, partner of the well-known Kayani Bakery of Poona. Kayani has been a trustee of the Panchayat since 1995 and a past chairman too. Bharucha is the branch manager of the Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank, Poona. He is actively involved in various cultural, religious, social and community activities as PPP trustee, managing committee member of the Poona Zarthosti Seva Mandal, executive committee member of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce and the Third World Zoroastrian Youth Congress. Industrialist Mehta has also been reelected to his second term as PPP trustee. The group of companies — Auto Window, Auto Body (Bombay) Private Limited, Zoroastrian Automobiles Private Limited, Mazda Windows Private Limited, Ahura Engineering (Bombay) Private Limited and Auto Window (Bombay) Private Limited — under Mehta’s guidance has consolidated its position as the leader in the automobile industry. Bokdawalla is an aircraft maintenance engineer by training and currently marketing manager for Industrial Valve Manufacturing Company. He has been trustee of the PPP since 1992 and former joint secretary of the Poona Zarthosti Seva Mandal.

Poona trustees (clockwise from top left): Irani, Kayani, Mehta, Sarondewala, Dorabjee, Bokdawalla and Bharucha

Sarondewala, an accountant, contested the PPP elections for the first time. He was formerly a resident of Bombay. Dorabjee who undertakes outdoor catering assignments was formerly managing the Mazdana Bar Restaurant, was the official caterer for The Royal Connaught Boat Club and had opened a takeaway restaurant Pik-a-Meal on a partnership basis.

"As members of the community are aware, the present team of trustees, many of whom have been reelected with a thumping majority in a fair and open election, have been working very harmoniously and have successfully completed several housing and other projects. The exemplary work done by the trustees of the PPP is a shining model of true service, efficiency, professionalism and complete transparency and accountability to the donors and the community. It is really sad and shocking that the author or authors of (a) disgusting letter have sought to tarnish the fair name of all the present trustees,” asserted a letter by Coover P. Mehta in the Jam-e-Jamshed and The Bombay Samachar of February 29, 2004.

Around the same time came the news that the Poona chapter of the Disposal of the Dead with Dignity (DDD) had issued a circular announcing guidelines for those who wish to opt for cremation. Pesi Anklesaria, Eruch Chindhy, Dr Sam Dalal, Burjor Garda and Framroze Garda have apparently offered their honorary assistance to the bereaved families. In addition to providing the contact numbers of these volunteers the circular also names the Bombay priests and the rates at which they would perform the obsequial ceremonies. The hall at Mody Colony at Synagogue Street is available for performing the last rites and four-day prayers, according to the circular.

As noted a letter by Ervad Darius Sethna, "The movement initiated by DDD of (Poona) is the most rational and pragmatic step in the right direction...The Parsi Zoroastrian community as a whole needs to show their sense of gratitude to the DDD of Poona for finding their own separate path and not disturbing the time honored heritage, customs and traditions of religion and race.”