“Reserve to preserve”

With reference to Burjor N. Vakil’s letter "Reserve to preserve” (Parsiana, March 2005), I do not agree that we should ask for reservation of jobs in banks and insurance companies just because our ancestors were instrumental in establishing some of them. The job field is quite wide and our youngsters should look for opportunities elsewhere instead of cushy positions in banks and insurance companies which had killed the spirit of enterprise in the past. However, I am pleased to notice that of late our youngsters are once again becoming enterprising in starting their own businesses, especially in the mofussil. Our girls study better and appear to be more enterprising these days.

Actually, the need of the hour is to ask for reservation in medical, engineering, technical and such academic institutions on the grounds that many such institutions were established by Parsis in Bombay and elsewhere, e.g. the B. J. (Byramji Jijeebhoy) Medical Colleges in Ahmedabad and Poona. There might already be reservation in some colleges about which we might not be aware and would request your readers who might be aware of the same to enlighten the community. I understand that there is or was reservation for Parsis in Sangli. I might be wrong and would like someone in the know of the same to come forward and inform us through your columns about the correct facts.

R. H. Patuck: visionary

Marzban J. Giara deserves to be thanked for bringing to the attention of the community the Patuck-Gala College of Commerce and Management. We should salute its founder Late Rustomji Hormusji Patuck for founding such an excellent institution in the vicinity of Bombay and his successors for not only continuing the good work but also for expanding the activities. Frankly, I for one did not know about the Patuck Polytechnic Trust which runs schools and colleges that provide free education to Parsi students with 50 percent seats reserved for Parsis. Incidentally, I wonder whether the 50 percent reservation enjoyed by the Patuck Trust would be available to other colleges started under the aegis of the same, in which case Parsi/Irani philanthropists and trusts should consider starting medical and such other colleges in collaboration with them.

It is most disappointing to know that only two Parsi students are availing of this golden opportunity. Is it lack of hostel facilities for mofussil students or lack of awareness in the community that is responsible for students not taking advantage of this excellent institution? All efforts should be made to bring this outstanding institution to the commu­nity’s knowledge, starting with the management which should give publicity to their various facilities by giving information in the Press once or twice a year at the appropriate time, particularly aimed at the mofossil and rural Parsi population and the Parsi Press should cooperate by carrying the same free of charge.

After writing the above I was most happy to read Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s (BPP) announcement about the arrangements made at Mangalore for Zarathusti students to pursue studies in medical, dentistry and various branches of engineering for which the BPP and NTTE Trust will bear 50 percent of the fees. I congratulate the BPP and Dinshaw K. Tamboly, trustee and chairman, education committee, for this excellent arrangement and trust that our youngsters will take advantage of it.

RASHID S. MEDORA

Ahmedabad