“Development at...”

"In "Development at Dadysett” (Parsi-ana, August 2004) your reporter says that The Times of India ignored their (Rustom Cursetji and Pervez Bhesa­nia) letter of protest. This statement is entirely baseless because the newspaper had published their letter in its issue of June 14, 2001. The edited version of the letter carried by us read:

"Not for, not against

With reference to your front-page article ‘Fiery protest saves 200-year-old building’ (June 11), where it was mentioned that "700 Zoroastrians barring two supported the project”, the fact is that what we did not support was the way in which the resolution was read and passed without debate when only about one per cent of the Parsi population was present. Not supporting the resolution does not mean that we supported the project.

Pervez Bhesania, Mumbai”

Nauzer K. Bharucha

Arnavaz Mama replies

Parsiana regrets the oversight. The title of the letter did not draw the immediate attention of either the letter writers or ourselves.

I was very sorry and deeply concerned to learn that the trustees of Dadysett Charity Trust and the Pallonji Shapoorji Trust have decided to put off their earlier noble plan to build a new seven-storeyed building, in place of the existing old two-storeyed building in the Dadysett Atash Behram complex, to provide the much needed housing facilities for 70 mobeds and middle class Parsi families.

Dadysett Atash Behram otla Photo: Homyar Mistry

The reasons given for withdrawal of this munificent offer are the reckless manner in which motives have been sought to be ascribed to the trustees of both the Trusts and the usual scare created for the gullibles about the threatened sacrilege of the Atash Behram.

The good intentions of the trustees and their earlier track record of charities are well known. Understandably, the trustees feel slighted by the uncalled for behavior of the usual handful of troubleshooters who take every opportunity to view good intentions or progress with tainted glasses.

The ultimate sufferers are the families who would have been provided with modern housing facilities from the largesse of these two Trusts.

I appeal to the sensibilities of the trustees of both these Trusts, that disregarding the uncalled for diatribes they should proceed with their original plan and get the blessings from the poor.

Dr M. D. DISAWALLA

Bangalore