Believing in miracles

In his article in the Free Press Journal dated April 28, 1998 titled "Six fatal mistakes,” Nani Palkhivala wrote: "First, our greatest initial mistake was to start with adult franchise. No democracy has ever paid, all things considered, a heavier price for adult franchise than India.” He went on to add, "Educate our people first to make them worthy of discharging their duties as citizens of a great democracy.” Unfortunately, neither the government nor, in this instance, his community, heeded his advice.

The earlier system when donors had the right to elect those trustees whom they thought fit to be custodians for safeguarding their assets was a good one. In effect they had earned their right to vote while today it has become a free ride for all on the bandwagon! We are now in for party based politics of elections — and several parties at that, with personal vested interests who will sway people with false promises. The community’s assets are at stake. What is more distressing is the fact that all seven trustees will be new ones. There will be no smooth continuity.

Over the years, in my association with the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), I have found how new trustees enthusiastically promote ‘new ideas’ which are actually old ideas which have been tried and discarded.

It is indeed going to be a daunting task this time for the voter to ascertain who the best candidates are. However, here are a few suggestions:

From left: Sheroo Master, Homai Modi, Rusi Bhumgara and Rustom Hormazdiyar officiating at BPP elections

Do not opt for a candidate who makes many promises of what he will do when elected, for he is naive. Six other co-trustees must be convinced before these promises can be fulfilled. Promises are easily made and as easily forgotten.

Look for persons with a good background, wide experience, who are upright and honest.

Look for people who are committed and selfless, with a proven track record in community matters and who have excelled in whatever they have undertaken. Ask what their community service record is. Have they made a difference even in small ways?

A seven-person team of trustees with varied expertise would be ideal, with members well versed in finance, taxation, law, trust matters and knowledge of trust functioning, etc.

Be a good voter, one who does his own homework and is not led by others. Ask about the candidate’s credentials. Does he pay tax? Has he a good background? Does he come from a respected family with good educational qualifications?

Is the candidate a beneficiary of the BPP or has he stood on his own merit? Beneficiaries should not be trustees. Who are beneficiaries? Those staying in BPP baugs. Those who have taken funds from the BPP and received aid in one form or another from it.

Select someone who has put money into the BPP without motives of self benefit for such a person will manage funds with a ‘heart’ and not for personal gain or profit. Integrity is a must.

Select one who follows the religion to the best of his belief and does not just talk about it, for he is the one who treads the middle path.

Select one who is wise (intelligence and wisdom are not the same) and has the ability to conduct meetings with discipline and decorum.

Select one who has time to devote to BPP matters on a regular basis.

Select one who is reasonably accessible to the public. A trustee must know how to mix with members of his community yet be apart from and above the crowd. Once a trustee becomes too friendly with the ‘crowd’ he is unable to do justice in an unbiased manner and tends to play favorites.

My ideal trustee would be one who can be trusted to be totally honest and fair to all with no party politics and whom we as a community can look up to.

Difficult to find? Well, almost impossible, especially when wrangles over the new system continue and one does not know the turn of events from one day to another. However, I continue to believe in my community. I also believe in miracles. Despite being individually intelligent, when we break our tradition of being collectively foolish, that will be the day!

Former governor’s nominee on the University of Mumbai’s senate and prominent social worker, Homai Modi is the joint honorary secretary of the Maharashtra State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society. She is also the trustee-secretary of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute.