At the House of Lords

The presence in London of Phiroz Vandrewala, executive director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and currently the Indian co-chair of the Indo-British Business Council, was reason enough for Karan, Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, to host a glittering reception at the House of Lords on behalf of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, UK Chapter on June 11, 2008. Bilimoria has been the Council’s UK co-chair for several years now and for the first time since its inception both co-chairs are Zoroastrians.

Using his uniquely efficient persuasiveness with Baroness Hayman, the Lord Speaker of the House, Bilimoria ensured that the reception was held in the prestigious Riverside Room which formed a part of the personal residence of the Lord Chancellor who traditionally presided over the House of Lords. The office of Lord Chancellor was abolished five years ago and replaced by that of Lord Speaker. The latter does not inherit the residence which went with the former office, but continues to control the use of its rooms and is very careful about what reception is held there and how the beautiful room is preserved, writes Dorab Mistry, former president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) in an e-mail to Parsiana.

Appropriately, the reception celebrated the Zoroastrian community’s contribution to British business over the years. Today Bilimoria, chairman of Cobra Beer, is the most prominent Zoroastrian businessman in the UK, as notes a communiqué from ZTFE president Paurushasp Jila. Hayman, as guest of honor on the occasion, welcomed the invitees and praised Bilimoria’s contribution to the House of Lords over the past two years since his appointment as a peer of the realm.

Top: Phiroz Vandrewala with Baroness Hayman. Bottom (L to R): Paurushasp Jila, Perses Sethna, Jimmy Contractor, Nauzar Manekshaw, Lord Bilimoria, Jamsheed Engineer, Phiroz Vandrewala, Shernaz Engineer, Cyrus Todiwala and Dorab Mistry

Emphasizing the seventh social sin enunciated by Mahatma Gandhi for businessmen everywhere — commerce without morality — Bilimoria spoke of his Zoroastrian faith and the Indian roots of his family. That the first three Asian members of the British Parliament have all been Zoroastrians has been a source of inspiration which he has acknowledged again and again.

While describing the WZCC and its activities to the Baroness, Bilimoria also sought to inculcate the virtues of recognizing the difference between obstacle and opportunity and using both to advantage to the captive audience of community entrepreneurs. Focusing on the facilities available under the UK-India Business Council he urged them to expand trade and investment between the two countries which has been on the upswing ever since the foundation of the partnership in 1993. Bilimoria, who founded the UK chapter of the WZCC in 2001, had passed on the baton to Shernaz Engineer of Verity Appointments in 2006.

Vandrewala enthusiastically described the two countries as the "best of friends in politics as well as in business,” providing a backdrop to the Tatas’ business approach and their dramatic expansion overseas, particularly the acquisition of Corus Steel and the legendary Jaguar and Land Rover. The TCS, according to Vandrevala, is one of the most successful and profitable software companies in the world, as notes Jila’s report.

It was left to Engineer to provide a brief history of Zoroastrian business in the UK, starting with the first Asian firm, Cama and Company, established in 1850. It may be recalled that it was as an official of this company that Dadabhai Naoroji first arrived in England. For the past century and more while British firms have been thriving in India, the Tata, Godrej, Wadia, Cowasji Jehangir, Sha­poor­ji Pallonji and Petit families have pursued their commercial success in Britain, Engineer noted. The Poona based company Thermax has been a more recent addition to the group.

The WZCC membership expressed its joy at the event with the presentation of mementos to Hayman, Vandre­wala and Bilimoria, effected on its behalf by Engineer.