Editorial Viewpoint
Two much
The second anniversary of the conservative World Alliance of Parsi
Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) body would be an appropriate time to
evaluate the movement. But unfortunately WAPIZ has excluded the Parsi Press — The Bombay Samachar, Jam-e-Jamshed and Parsiana — from all their events.
So, aside from the raucous Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meetings where the WAPIZ head honchos flout all norms of
propriety and behave as a law unto themselves, we do not have any
other firsthand opportunity to judge the group’s activities and its
leadership.
The only other source from which one can observe the organization is
the comic-tragic “WAPIZ Page” every other Thursday in the daily
newspaper, Afternoon Despatch and Courier. But here such extreme and
strident stands are taken that one cannot gauge any coherent policy.
The other activities portrayed in the pages include holiday outings or sports events, felicitation to those in favor — hardly world body
material. Even the smallest anjumans would do as much and that too
with far less resources than WAPIZ.
One point that comes across clearly is that WAPIZ is flush with funds. Aside from spending lakhs of rupees on the two color pages every fortnight, their press release states that they treated 2,500 WAPIZ members and invitees to a sumptuous dinner and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) free of cost at the prestigious Royal Western India Turf Club grounds on May 26, 2007. This is their third such banquet. At around rupees ten lakhs an event, this totals close to 30 lakhs in feasting and felicitating alone.
The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) in turn asked people to pay
for their meal even when they held their 25th anniversary gathering.
And the event was at Allbless Baug!
Many of the WAPIZ functions are held at the Taj Palace and Tower Hotel in South Bombay, one of the most expensive places to wine and dine. The reception for Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa on completing 50 years of dasturi was held at the five-star deluxe hotel, as was one of their press conferences, ironically, for Parsi journalists barring of course the Parsi Press!
After the second anniversary WAPIZ dinner two photographs of the
function and a write-up were e-mailed to Parsiana. When WAPIZ
spokesperson Anahita Desai was informed by Parsiana of their receipt, she expressed surprise stating they had not sent it but their public relations (PR) agency must have. How many community organizations can afford the services of a professional PR agency? Not to mention the countless, often meaningless, but exceedingly costly litigations WAPIZ indulges in in the various courts.
At an Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) election meet in Dadar at the Dadar Parsi Youth Assembly High School foyer (with participants seated on wooden benches) to rope in people to register for the forthcoming Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) elections, the gathering was informed that WAPIZ was registering voters in Gujarat and other places out of Bombay (any Parsi Zoroastrian over the age of 18 who is registered to vote, can vote if in Bombay on the day/s of the election). One speaker humorously remarked that they were doing so as they had no following in Bombay. But another speaker, a prominent social worker, cautioned that the economically disadvantaged were approaching them asking how they could join WAPIZ because of the freebees offered such as meals, subsidized travel outings, picnics, etc.
One does not hear of WAPIZ’s charitable largesse in other fields
besides food and entertainment. At the Federation meetings many
anjuman representatives refer to much needed funds being received from the BPP or WZO. But the only ones talking of WAPIZ charity are the WAPIZ leaders masquerading as representatives of small anjumans with which they have no connection whatsoever. In fact so b
Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) body would be an appropriate time to
evaluate the movement. But unfortunately WAPIZ has excluded the Parsi Press — The Bombay Samachar, Jam-e-Jamshed and Parsiana — from all their events.
So, aside from the raucous Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meetings where the WAPIZ head honchos flout all norms of
propriety and behave as a law unto themselves, we do not have any
other firsthand opportunity to judge the group’s activities and its
leadership.
The only other source from which one can observe the organization is
the comic-tragic “WAPIZ Page” every other Thursday in the daily
newspaper, Afternoon Despatch and Courier. But here such extreme and
strident stands are taken that one cannot gauge any coherent policy.
The other activities portrayed in the pages include holiday outings or sports events, felicitation to those in favor — hardly world body
material. Even the smallest anjumans would do as much and that too
with far less resources than WAPIZ.
One point that comes across clearly is that WAPIZ is flush with funds. Aside from spending lakhs of rupees on the two color pages every fortnight, their press release states that they treated 2,500 WAPIZ members and invitees to a sumptuous dinner and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) free of cost at the prestigious Royal Western India Turf Club grounds on May 26, 2007. This is their third such banquet. At around rupees ten lakhs an event, this totals close to 30 lakhs in feasting and felicitating alone.
The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) in turn asked people to pay
for their meal even when they held their 25th anniversary gathering.
And the event was at Allbless Baug!
Many of the WAPIZ functions are held at the Taj Palace and Tower Hotel in South Bombay, one of the most expensive places to wine and dine. The reception for Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa on completing 50 years of dasturi was held at the five-star deluxe hotel, as was one of their press conferences, ironically, for Parsi journalists barring of course the Parsi Press!
After the second anniversary WAPIZ dinner two photographs of the
function and a write-up were e-mailed to Parsiana. When WAPIZ
spokesperson Anahita Desai was informed by Parsiana of their receipt, she expressed surprise stating they had not sent it but their public relations (PR) agency must have. How many community organizations can afford the services of a professional PR agency? Not to mention the countless, often meaningless, but exceedingly costly litigations WAPIZ indulges in in the various courts.
At an Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) election meet in Dadar at the Dadar Parsi Youth Assembly High School foyer (with participants seated on wooden benches) to rope in people to register for the forthcoming Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) elections, the gathering was informed that WAPIZ was registering voters in Gujarat and other places out of Bombay (any Parsi Zoroastrian over the age of 18 who is registered to vote, can vote if in Bombay on the day/s of the election). One speaker humorously remarked that they were doing so as they had no following in Bombay. But another speaker, a prominent social worker, cautioned that the economically disadvantaged were approaching them asking how they could join WAPIZ because of the freebees offered such as meals, subsidized travel outings, picnics, etc.
One does not hear of WAPIZ’s charitable largesse in other fields
besides food and entertainment. At the Federation meetings many
anjuman representatives refer to much needed funds being received from the BPP or WZO. But the only ones talking of WAPIZ charity are the WAPIZ leaders masquerading as representatives of small anjumans with which they have no connection whatsoever. In fact so b
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