“A worldly view”

The experience gained by me as a trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), and more particularly as its chairman, has been exciting. However, in the last three years it has become taxing as the beneficiaries have become more demanding and the Parsi Press very intrusive.

When I became a trustee of the BPP in 1986, the pace was leisurely and the demand on my time was barely five hours a month, as board meetings were held twice a month. For the last several years the frequency has increased to over once a week with a Housing Committee meeting preceding it. In addition to the formal board meetings, considerable time is involved in meeting some of the beneficiaries, visiting baugs and attending a number of functions. The expanding role of the BPP in areas like fertility, Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce and Venture Capital also makes additional demands depending upon one’s willingness to participate.

Against the backdrop of my experience, I have set out a few qualities which I consider essential for a trustee of a renowned trust like the BPP.

Character: A trustee must command respect in society at large (not only from Zoroastrians) for mental and moral qualities, inspire trust and confidence, lead by example and be someone whom the community can look up to.

Competence: A trustee must be recognized by peers and society in general for contribution to business, professional or social organizations. He must be capable of taking a worldly view of affairs and be able to comprehend complex issues so that he can take fair and mature decisions. Financial acumen is an essential prerequisite.

Credibility: A trustee must be acceptable in professional and social circles for honest and decent conduct as well as high integrity.

Conviviality: A trustee must have an amiable temperament, with the capacity to get on and network with people at various levels. He should be able to influence people and be acceptable in various circles. He must be a good team player, with the ability to help forge consensus on contentious issues.

Communication: A trustee must have felicity of expression, and the willingness to participate in societal and national issues as well, to give the BPP a better profile.

Commitment: This is the most vital ingredient both in terms of aptitude to serve and the ability to spare time. A minimum of 10 hours a week would be a prerequisite for effective participation.

Transparency: A trustee should have no personal agenda and abstain from participating in and voting on issues at board meetings where a direct or indirect personal interest is involved.

I fully realize that no one candidate can possibly fit the bill. However, the endeavor should be to meet these criteria in large measure. More than anything else, the general perception of the community regarding the above attributes is as important as the trustees’ personal qualities.

Minoo Shroff, president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punch­ayet, is a res-pected economist and qualified chartered accountant. He has been on the board of several leading companies and as consultant to leading industrial houses. A recipient of the Government of Japan, Rising Sun award, Shroff is president of the Forum of Free Enterprise and chairs several other social organizations.