The independents’ day - II

In "The independents’ day” (Parsiana, September 7, 2008) we had carried introductions to 17 independent candidates in the fray for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship elections. Since then we have gleaned information on two more candidates, presented below. Kersi Minocher Patel is the only candidate on whom we do not have any information.

Adil Dinshaw Irani is a chartered accountant working with Air India for the last 22 years. He had reportedly secured the highest number of votes at the Anjuman Committee election in 1992. His admirers describe him as an "honest, intelligent, hardworking, determined and dedicated person who will work for the welfare of our community.”

A trusteeship platform would give him an opportunity to secure minority status for the community, protect the sanctity of Iranshah and other fire temples, uplift the mobeds, protect Doongerwadi and the ancient dakhmenashini system, solve the housing needs of deserving Zoroastrians.

Sarosh Nadirshaw Gandhi views himself as kindhearted, not lured by greed or jealousy. Whilst fulfilling the obligations of the trust deed a trusteeship seat would enable him to help poor Zoroastrians with monthly grants and medical expenses as also interest-free loans and raise the salary of khandhias. Against leave and licence agreements, he would introduce new criteria for housing allotments. Besides supervising the repair work in different colonies he would also introduce a sports club in every baug.

He is against selling the sacred well water and has realized that the dakhme­nashini system has failed in the absence of vultures. To curb the stench of rotting bodies he feels the need to introduce hot air blowers through the night to dehydrate the bodies faster. To adopt an alternative mode of disposal like burial, a community vote needs to be taken, he recommends.

Election dates

at six centres from 10 am to 6 pm

Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd 04-10-2008 Saturday

Rustom Baug, Byculla 05-10-2008 Sunday

Sir J. J. School Building, Ground Floor, Fort 11-10-2008 Saturday

Sir Shapurji Bharucha Baug, Andheri (West) 12-10-2008 Sunday

Sir J. J. School Building, Ground Floor, Fort 18-10-2008 Saturday

J. B. Vatcha School, Dadar 19-10-2008 Sunday

Declaration of election results by Scrutinizer and President latest by 27-10-2008 Monday

Result to be published on the Notice Board of the BPP latest by 27-10-2008 Monday

Result to be published in newspapers latest by 28-10-2008 Tuesday