A new hope

The forthcoming Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meeting on September 23 and 24 portends to be stormy. Aside from the contentious issue of the proposed revisions to the rules and regulations of the Federation, the emotive issue of Dhun Baria’s campaign to press for reform in the present method for disposal of the dead may well take center stage.

In addition some delegates may raise the issue of the submission and subsequent withdrawal of the letters of resignation of four Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees in the month of June 2006.

The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) court application on August 21, 2006 seeking to bar the four from holding office was not entertained by the Bombay High Court judge who suggested the orthodox group approach "the appropriate forum.” The floor of the Federation may not be what the judge had in mind but any opportunity to embarrass the four trustees would be fair game for their opponents.

A meeting of the warring factions, including the Parsi Press was called for at the BPP boardroom on August 16, 2006 by BPP chairman Minoo Shroff:

"In the light of recent developments and detailed write-ups in the media, my colleague trustees and I welcome a dialog with a few concerned and informed members of the community representing different viewpoints.

"For this purpose an informal ‘without prejudice’ meeting is being organized.”

Amongst the invitees were Homi Ranina, WAPIZ executive committee member and former BPP trustee, Kersi Randeria of the Alert Zoroastrians’ Association (AZA), Phiroze Amroliwalla and Noshir Dadrawala.

Ranina requested WAPIZ foun­der member Khojeste Mistree also be present but eventually the WAPIZ representatives absented themselves.

Shroff said they phoned a few hours before the meeting objecting to the presence of the Parsi Press who are anathema to them. But another reason put forth in a letter to Shroff an hour or so prior to the meeting stated as they were moving the court to unseat the four trustees, they could not be discussing the issue with them when their very legitimacy to hold office was in question. WAPIZ, however, were willing to hold talks directly with the trustees without any third party present, Shroff noted.

That left basically the AZA who have been threatening to move the Charity Commissioner seeking to oust all the six sitting trustees. AZA was apprehensive of stating their game plan without knowing what WAPIZ’s strategy was to be. But they agreed to hear out the peace proposals and give a suitable response after consulting their membership.

But they made no bones about voicing their disapproval of the present housing policy of the BPP or of their disdain for BPP trustee Dinshaw Mehta who, they indirectly kept alleging, allotted flats to his wealthy friends.

The patch up formula had been put forward by noted lawyer and The Bombay Samachar weekly columnist Berjis M. Desai at whose initiative Shroff said he called the meeting. The proposals offered several alternatives which included Shroff filling out his original term of office of 10 years instead of seven, the introduction of adult franchise and the four or six trustees continuing or resigning depending on the outcome of the talks.

Another round of discussions were scheduled for August 21 at BPP trustee Dadi Engineer’s residence as Engineer is recuperating from a fractured leg and head injuries following a cave-in of the ceiling at his office. That meeting also proved inconclusive and the subsequent meeting was cancelled. But the BPP trustees intend to proceed with the proposal to extend Shroff’s term and introduce adult franchise.

In the meanwhile the front page Mumbai Mirror story on Doonger­wadi crusader Dhun Baria pushed all other issues to the sidelines. What the BPP trustees dreaded had come true. A community issue was now in the national news. Unsure of how to mollify the reformers and the hardliners, the trustees called the high priests, other members of the clergy and the orthodox lobby to a meeting at the BPP office on September 5.

At the gathering the group reportedly showed a willingness to examine places where prayers could be said for those opting for alternative modes of disposal. But a week later, a letter signed by Dasturs (Dr) Kaikhusroo Jamasp­Asa, Firoze Kotwal and Peshotan Mirza stated, "not one inch of community land” could be given in Bombay for such prayers! Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada was not a signatory to the letter.

The WAPIZ Page in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier of September 14 echoed the sentiment. An open letter addressed to the BPP trustees by Ranina claimed, "We at WAPIZ are very clear, that the mode of disposal… is the right one and that the system is working satisfactorily.”

Dastur (Dr) Manek Dhalla had stated a 100 years ago that the system of dakhmenashini was impractical in cities like New York or London. If the trustees want religious sanctions they have it from one of the greatest scholar priests. But they can also act independently of priestly diktats and decide on the issue on the basis of sanitation, health, hygiene and common sense. The funeral prayers recited, the ceremonies performed, the obeisance offered are part of religious practice. How the body is disposed of is a matter of convenience and choice.

If Desai’s electoral initiative succeeds, the community will finally have a system of adult franchise, 59 years after the country introduced the method for electing representatives. It is a belated step but one welcomed by all sections of the community.

Doongerwadi is a more divisive issue. But if the trustees can act boldly on electoral reforms, there is no reason for them to fight shy of tackling reforms in the methods and practices of disposal of the dead.