“The community must win”

"Time is not some lost property to be found on the road. It depends on how one uses time. We’ll ensure that all the time required will be given.”

Noted lawyer and president of the Athornan Mandal Nadir Modi was responding to the criticism from The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) that the AFP (Adult Franchise for Progress ) panel of renowned professionals would have scant time for community issues. Over the years this canard has been dragged forth at election time whenever any professional of significance has shown a willingness to serve on the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) board of trustees.

Dismissing the "Gobbelisian technique” being adopted by these adversar ies ­— "repeat falsehood to infinitum and gullible people will believe it” — Modi noted that "religion as a justification for terror” had been evident in Jaipur, Delhi and in other places. "There are mujahid­dins in all communities. It’s up to you to be on your guard,” he warned Rustom Baug residents who had gathered at the Ness Wadia Pavilion on September 14, 2008 to meet the slate of seven contesting the BPP trusteeship elections.

What are the chances of their election promises being effectuated? Modi asked and, distinguishing himself and his fellow contenders from earlier BPP boards where promises at the hustings had failed to materialize because of internal dissensions, noted "(We are) seven horses for the chariot of the community. We come from the same stable and have learned to work together!”

The event took a slow and repetitive start with over half the seats empty. The audio visual shown at the AFP launch on August 9 was repeated as was an item on the Hansotia couple’s unending wait for a BPP flat. This was followed by a virtual promise on video of all that the panel aims to achieve over seven years — they are adamant they do not want a second term. Castigating the current BPP housing policies based on leave and licence and auctioning of flats as "commercialization of charity,” their concept is to ensure tenancy rights to the inheritors of BPP tenements, minimum litigation against tenants, no waiting list by the end of seven years and no charging of large security deposits. Moreover, they are committed to top priority for housing practicing mobeds.

Emphasizing their plan to seek reservation in professional educational institutions for medicine, business management, engineering, etc, the protection of dakhmenashini and repairs to old buildings even if tenants can’t contribute their share of the cost, the audio visual promised that third child incentives would include educational support, crèche facilities, subsidized text books and medicine. Old age homes with overseas donor support was also on the cards plus an assurance to make the BPP staff more polite and efficient and restore the credibility of the Punchayet.

By the time Adi Vazifdar, vice president of the Rustom Baug Residents Association, urged his neighbors to heed what the seven had to say and invited Modi to garland the bust of Sir Ness Wadia, the hall and its large verandah (where chairs had been laid out together with a screen to convey what was being said and done within the hall) were fully occupied. Berjis Desai, one of the principal movers for adult franchise and architect of the AFP panel, introduced each one, inviting them to address the gathering, starting with Modi.

Philanthropy management expert Noshir Dadrawala urged the gathering to choose seven leaders "using vohumana, your good mind,” from among the 33 who had offered their services. BPP trustees "are not leaders of religion. They have certain religious properties held in trust under deeds of settlement, irrespective of the personal views of panel members,” he assured the gathering. "We want socio-economic change in the community. Our religious views are personal views. .. All seven of us believe in Asha — the principle of truth, righteousness, order.” In the words of the wise man whom detractors had sought to ridicule by asking whether the bird they held was alive or dead, the intention being to prove him wrong whatever he said, "Whether the bird is alive or dead is in your hands. The future of the community is in your hands, on who you put on the board.”

Byram Jeejeebhoy referred to the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI) where he is a trustee and where according to him only 200 Parsi students avail of the facility which caters to 1,000. "The reservation quota is not filled. If you can’t fill the reservation quota where is the question of giving more money for education? But you (Parsis) don’t take advantage of Parsi institutions,” he noted.

On a personal level Jeejeebhoy responded to criticism regarding his NRI (non resident Indian) status. "I run my own company from abroad and it works beautifully. Physical presence is not necessary. I am an NRI but I will become a resident from 2009. I have already shifted my base from London to Dubai,” he stated, reassuring the audience that he "will meet all BPP commitments.”

Left: Kersi Randeria, Dinshaw Tamboly and Percy Patel Above: Berjis Desai

Referring to the land in Malad that he had donated to the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism for the construction of a prayer hall for Zoroastrians of all hues, Jeejeebhoy stated, "Yes, I may be called a liberal as compared to staunch orthodox like my colleagues, but I am not in favor of conversion.” He recalled the challenge of certain diehard orthodox, currently contesting the election from the other end of the spectrum, that liberals should go ahead and build their own houses of prayer instead of targeting existing agiaries for the use of outmarried community members and their progeny and noted that this would be a secular prayer hall where Zoroastrianism would be explained to all those interested in it.

Sitting trustee Maneck Engineer who has faced a number of jibes regarding his contribution to the Punchayet during his five-and-a-half-year term, claimed his share of the credit as "one of the architects of universal adult franchise.” He challenged the claim by WAPIZ that he had sworn an affidavit against dakhmenashini. "Khojeste used to come with me to Doongerwadi to see the greening process even before I became trustee.” He said he has been maintaining the solar panels at the dakhmas at 115° Celsius as the manufacturer was unable to provide service. "Now the solar panels are functioning every day, even during the monsoon when there is sunlight.”

Another canard he rebutted was about stopping the reconstruction of a building at Dadar Parsi Colony. "The building is on covenanted land. If you use the MHADA scheme you have to give away 25 percent of the area,” he explained in justification, noting that WAPIZ had protested against Hilla Towers on similar grounds. Certain developments at Dhunbaiwadi and Panthaky Baug — the road passing through the amalgamated property, two buildings constructed at Panthaky Baug one of which hadn’t yet got its occupation certificate — had been effected before he joined the Punchayet, noted Engineer.

To the four buildings existing at the Nirlon property in Goregaon, another has been added after Engineer joined the BPP. "The intention is to name it Neville Baug so there will be another small Wadia colony with 200 tenements,” he declared.

Another rumor floated against Engineer was that he spends three to four months a year with his daughters in New Zealand. "I spend only three to four weeks. You can scrutinize my passport,” he offered.

The Bombay Samachar managing director Muncherji Cama repudiated the "commercialization of charity and …very bad conduct” of the existing board of trustees. "Pugree has been legalized but what about the trust deed?” he asked, denoting the leave and licence agreements that inheriting tenants are forced to accept as "charity terrorism.” A trustee of the Parsi Rehthan Fund, Cama said they had repaired its 400 flats without taking any contribution from the tenants. "When you elect a trustee you are electing a custodian, not a liquidator,” averred Cama, terming the locking up of flats by people who had settled abroad as "disgusting” and promised to leave BPP assets in a better condition than he finds them. He also wants to use the expertise of old people.

A medical emergency prevented Sohrab Dastur, the tax law wizard who is the darling of corporate India and the cynosure of community attention at all AFP meets, as noted Desai, from attending the Rustom Baug meet. "His wife is battling for her life in the ICU,” stated Desai. In an audio visual presentation for the occasion Dastur promised two hours every week to meet community members who want to give or take advice. He saw increased funding for education as a step towards making "people independent, giving them the wherewithal to do something for the community.”

Dr Ketayun Dinshaw who is due to retire in November this year as head of the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital had to rush out of Bombay on an emergency call, as per Desai. Her audio visual offered her experience in medicine and science to "our small community riven by many issues.” Housing Development Finance Corporation CEO Keki Mistry was also unable to attend having been operated for fistula which wound had opened up again.

Question time

Why had he turned down the Dadar Parsi Colony brief? Modi was asked. "The covenant issue is pending before the High Court. It is uncertain when it will come up. There is no question of turning down the brief,” he noted.

Asked what he had done to ensure reservation for the community in the institutions he was associated with Jeejeebhoy noted that the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College was nationalized in 1960. "We asked for two seats. Also in the J.J. Hospital and the J.J. School of Art. We went to Sharad Pawar and offered several lakh rupees per year to ensure a couple of seats. There were many meetings but the scheme failed.”

Somebody suggested the institution of polytechnics to train Parsis in various crafts. Cama termed it an excellent suggestion but reminded the audience that the Godrej Printing Press and the Golvad Homes had become defunct (for lack of community usage). Asked how he will get an unlived in flat vacated, Cama said it will take a fraction of 20 years. The strenghtening of dakhmenashini? "Increase and widen the capacity of solar panels. Every year sees technical advances. We will get the best engineering help.” He was amenable to a suggestion for a group (medical) insurance for seniors and responded to a query regarding utilizing the expertise of older people in terms of engaging motherly elders for the care of creches. "They are also very good cooks. We could overcome nutritional deficiency in the community by getting them to employ unemployed youths.”

"Everybody should be proud that Berjis has single-handedly spearheaded this whole campaign,” noted Jeejeebhoy in answer to the question "What is Berjis’ role in this election?” Describing the canny solicitor as "a devout Parsi and an ordained priest (who) has watched the community grow…watched with pride and with shame…He has brought this group of people together, made his own equation and did it all in his head. I say to him, thank you for giving us this opportunity to serve the community and be in it together.”

Cama was asked what plans he had for promoting entrepreneurship. Typically, the ascerbic Cama noted, "The Jamsetji Tatas, the Jamsetji Jejeebhoys, the Godrejs did not ask for anyone’s help. They just went ahead.” Recalling the problem with money that Tata faced when starting TISCO, Cama said the venerable captain of industry wrote to several well-off fellow citizens to partake of the venture but did not address one who felt aggrieved at not receiving a similar petition. Unbidden, that person addressed a cheque of one lakh rupees to Tata. Lo and behold, the cheque was returned with the explanation that no one with a large family — and the gentleman in question had a large family — had been invited to subscribe to what may be a risky venture!

Hutoxi Doodhwalla of Rustom Baug who runs a facility for children in need of special care sought BPP space. "Off the cuff: Tehmulji Hospital,” shot back Cama.

Asked how they hoped to accommodate all the 900 applicants on their waiting list for housing Engineer noted, "BPP is only one of 40 big and small trusts. A building at Panthaky Baug and one or two at Nirlon should provide an additional 300 to 350 tenements. The Petit tower at Borivali will add 200 tenements. We should be able to house 900 occupants in five years.” He also noted the intention to meet the whole community once a year at a site to be announced later.

Does the AFP panel support conversion? Responded Dadrawala: "We believe in converting Parsis into good Zoroastrians. We are becoming abusive, bigoted. Parsi Zoroastrians have been known as a community with a sense of humor, love, fellowship…”

Is one term enough to solve the complex problems of the community? "The Government of India has a five year plan,” reminded Dadrawala. "We are committed to ensure that there’s no waiting list at the end of seven years. In any case, rotation is a good practice. The question should be why is this person going? not when is this person going?...One can work for the community whether trustee or not. None of us has said we’ll stop working at the end of seven years.”

As Modi had stated earlier, "In the end it is important that the community must win, not which individual comes in or loses.”