“Enterprise is still in flow”

Entrepreneurs are everywhere

The mom and pops we know.

To start a business isn’t rare,

But tough to make it grow.

The Parsi gents of yesteryear

Were known for enterprise.

They were brave, they had no fear

And they were very wise.

Just look at Mr Jeejeebhoy

Who started off in rags.

He was a young and orphaned boy

But then he packed his bags.

In Bombay he began to trade

And soon took off for China.

And people knew he always paid,

His goods were best, none finer.

And once he had his fortune made

He took to charity.

Then many Parsis entered trade.

There was then clarity

That Parsis led in enterprise,

In each and every sphere.

When India started to industrialize

The Parsis had a seer.

J. N. Tata found some ore

And said he would make steel.

But on this claim few set much store

A Brit said he’d make a meal

Of every bar that was produced

By our presumptuous guy.

But the skeptic was the one reduced

To eating humble pie.

We all owe thanks to Lord Macaulay

For modern education,

He was the first to pave the way

Towards a knowledge nation.

The Parsis took to learning fast —

In all of the professions

Their contributions were deemed vast.

And oft we see successions

Of parent handing down to child,

In law and medicine.

And generations were beguiled

For they had no need to pin

Their hopes on any risky schemes

Where much could be to gain,

But where it all so often seems

It might end up in vain.

While entrepreneurs must bet all

The Parsis were content.

They did not want to risk a fall,

Most had now lost the bent.

Now different lands have different views

Some favor enterprise.

In America they do find use

For those who fail and rise.

They know that those who’ve failed are tough

And have the chance to learn.

Just to be smart is not enough

For failure helps to earn

The wisdom that hard knocks provide

And nothing else can teach.

If failure is made bona fide,

Any nation could then reach

America’s level of enterprise,

Which of course is high,

And I am sure this is a prize

For which you could well try.

The Parsi greats of ancient times,

About whom I do preach,

Provide us these inspiring rhymes

But now what can they teach?

Now values are what can persist

From those times till today.

The Tatas always did insist

Their values should hold sway.

The values, which they hold so dear,

Should live eternally.

But times do change and they must steer

A different strategy.

Attempts are on to revitalize

A group that once seemed slow

And rapidly they globalize

And now they’ve much to show.

Against all odds Corus came

Into the Tata’s lap.

The Brazilians soon gave up the game.

Such a feather in Ratan’s cap!

Would he have won, with so much ease,

Had the values not been good?

CSN’s bid just had to cease

Since Corus understood

That Tata was the better bet

With values they could share.

Some benefit you do get

If you always play fair.

For Ratan’s work is for the cause

And not for his own gain.

So he proceeds without a pause

And nothing can restrain

The Tata group’s relentless pace

In India and beyond.

They will prevail in the race

Because there is a bond

Between the firm and the world at large.

Real problems they address.

The people’s car is their next charge.

I wish them great success.

Some families have lasted long

And built things gradually.

But others have become quite strong

Though they started recently.

For every Mistry, Wadia, Tata

That started long ago.

We have an Aga, Forbes, Khambatta

Who now can serve to show

That enterprise is still in flow.

In the future I’ll recite

Names that today we hardly know.

Many more will come to light.

No one can doubt that Parsis thrived

In the colonial age.

There was a lull then they revived

And still play on the stage.

In India they made quite a mark

But can they score abroad?

To help you all to light the spark

Who better than Milord?

His Cobra beer has a zing,

Designed for Indian food,

Which is of course known for its sting.

So we can now conclude

That Parsis certainly can shine

Beyond the Indian shore.

As you can see he has done fine

But we need many more.

So some of you should take a chance

And strike off on your own.

If you believe then take a stance

You may well find a loan

Or equity is always there.

VC is now the fashion.

There is no better time to dare

If you have the passion!

Now Parsis are spread everywhere.

And they can choose their land.

If the Diaspora does dare

Then everywhere we’ll stand

High in the league of enterprise

Renowned in every place.

I know we can attain the prize

If many join the race.

Highlights of Parsi commercial history in verse were recited by Nadir Godrej during the inter-active media session "Talk with the Titans” at the XIV North American Zoroastrian Congress in Toronto. The author has a penchant for rhyme and has published a book of poems.