“Never a dull moment”

It is a recognized fact that the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship is a prestigious public office that one can be elected to. It entails providing mature leadership to the community at large and managing the commu­nity’s vast assets. BPP trusteeship requires incumbents to conduct affairs with decorum, dignity and responsibility.

The BPP is akin to a medium sized corporate entity where complex issues arise on an ongoing basis. My colleague Minoo Shroff hit the nail on the head when he summed up the essence of being a BPP trustee as: "Never a dull moment.”

The BPP is involved in multiple welfare activities on a scale far greater than that undertaken by any other community trust. These encompass the entire gamut of human needs: providing a roof over the heads of more than 4,500 families through their housing initiatives; the pursuit of education; providing medical assistance and relief from poverty; encouraging the youth to attain their potential through seminars and programs; focussing on increasing fertility in the community; managing student hostels, agiaries, a museum, health unit and polyclinic; encouraging entrepreneurship through the venture capital route; procuring and distributing wool tops at cost to be converted into kustis which are thereafter repurchased for sale to community members — the list is endless. The BPP can rightly be said to be involved with the welfare of Parsis from the womb to the tomb.

Managing welfare activities of this scale and the responsibility associated with the office of trustee, necessitate that individuals aspiring to be elected trustees should be persons of standing, professionally competent and successful, having a penchant for community service, committed and dedicated to community causes and, very importantly, willing to spare adequate time for BPP affairs.

Dinshaw Tamboly: testing times

The BPP is a very demanding taskmaster. It has been my experience as a trustee (since November 1996) that, even after having set aside adequate time at the expense of some professional interests, devoting anything between 10 hours to 25 hours (depending on exigencies) every week towards BPP activities, I have on occasion felt that more time should have been allocated. Suffice it to say that individuals unable to devote substantial time will find trusteeship to be very testing in managing complex issues that manifest regularly.

A vital quality that any aspiring trustee should ideally possess is that of having an open mind. A trustee cannot enjoy the luxury of having a rigid mindset in any matter. As part of an educated community, a plethora of diverse views/comments expressed in all matters, big and small, have to be addressed. When dealing with complex issues a trustee must listen to and consider all shades of opinion. A trustee perforce has to have a clear 360º perspective when considering issues.

Trustees have often to contend with sensitive issues where the prevailing public opinion may not be in the larger interest of the trust or the community. At such times they have to act maturely and decisively, irrespective of the popular view. Trustees cannot tread only on one side of the road, whether traditional or liberal; they must perforce tread the middle of the road (center). Pragmatism is a quality that should be inbuilt in the psyche of any trustee.

The needs of any community may be infinite, whereas the resources available are unfortunately finite. It is thus humanly impossible to please all beneficiaries at all times. As trustee, one has to often take decisions that are difficult, which some beneficiaries may not take kindly to, resulting in criticism and the levelling of allegations. Aspiring trustees must be aware of the fact that trusteeship is most definitely not a popularity contest.

To do justice to their privileged position, trustees must possess the important quality of being able to take criticism in their stride, have the courage to accept genuine shortcomings and thereafter to display the vision and magnanimity of taking corrective action, resulting perhaps in overturning their own earlier decisions. And in instances when they are subjected to misplaced criticism and false allegations, they must respond with facts, coupled with dignity and grace.

The litmus test of a trustee’s work and worth is best measured in the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”

Trusteeship of the BPP is certainly not for the faint-hearted or the weak­minded. Only those having steel within them, and open, analytical, logical minds, possessing the ability to think rationally, analyze objectively and execute decisively should venture to tread on the volatile but gratifying path of trusteeship, never forgetting that the position they hold is not one of a crown to wear; but in actual fact a cross to carry.

The rank and file of adults within the community has for the first time been given the right to enrol as voters and participate directly in the electoral process. Accompanying this right is an awesome responsibility: that of electing the best available people for these sensitive positions.

The maturity with which voters fulfil their responsibilities will determine the fate and fortune of the community in years to come. As is the norm in the democratic process, we the voters of the community will elect our leaders, the Punchayet trustees that we deserve.

The results of the forthcoming election through the process of Universal Adult Franchise will unmask the hype that we take great pride in, describing ourselves as being an enlightened community.

In the sunset phase of my tenure as a BPP trustee, when I sit back and reflect over having occupied the hot seat for over a decade, recalling the agonies and ecstasies, the highs and the lows, I experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for having been blessed with the opportunity to do my bit for my community. The bouquets that I received from like minded folks and brickbats from those who thought differently will soon be things of the past. As far as I am concerned, I did my best, believing that it was the grace of divine Vohu Mana guiding me to perform to the best of my ability, truthfully, honestly and without fear or favor.

I feel it will be appropriate to conclude with an Avestan phrase: "Hama­zor, Hama Asho Baad (Let us be one in strength and righteousness).”

Dinshaw K. Tamboly is the chairman of WZO’s Trust Funds in India, a trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and of several other trusts, educational and medical institutions. Professionally, he provides management and marketing related business consultancy services to various leading organizations.