Independent individuals

On the last Saturday before the elections slated to commence on October 4, 2008, six independent candidates availed of the platform offered by the Khareghat Colony and Aderbad Group to introduce themselves, their programs and pledges if elected trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Each of the candidates was punctual for his allotted time slot and would depart with his retinue after the presentation was over. Thus barring a few constants there was considerable fluidity in the audience, sometimes causing disturbance to the next speaker.

At the starting time of 5.30 p.m. there were not even 20 members in the audience but after a wait of 15 minutes host Paeterasp Patel introduced the chairperson Perviz Dotivala as "social worker number one” who has chosen to devote herself to the "community and nation which required her services.” With her effective time management and reining in of certain speakers from whom words flowed profusely Dotivala was able to ensure that the program was brought to a close within three hours, nearly an hour before the expected 10 p.m. deadline. Of the six candidates, four were Godrej Baug residents.

Perviz Dotivala (left) and Paeterasp Patel at Khareghat Colony

Tehmtan Jamshedji Dumasia

The first speaker Tehmtan Dumasia had the time to hang up his banners on the podium and walls to reinforce his message that he is "a common man like one of you… a people’s person,” as he told the audience. A successful businessman, Dumasia runs ‘K’ Caterers, Sher­naaz Florist, Foto Flash Video Labs, and has served as secretary and president of the Godrej Baug, as secretary (South Bombay) of the District Congress Committee, as volunteer for the Senior Citizen Helpline 1090 and as member of the Mohalla Peace Committee, Malabar Hill. Before he took to the mike, one of his supporters Nilufer Nasi­ra­badwala referred to his helpful nature, citing instances of his assisting a neighbor… a lost child… an accident victim… when the majority may shirk their responsibilities saying "aay lafraa maa kah pariyé (why get unnecessarily involved in this problem)?”

"I want to make sure that others don’t face the same problems that I have faced,” said Dumasia promising "to be at the BPP every day and available to the common man every afternoon to get things done in a speedier way… I know what it is to be without a house.” In favor of revamping the merit rating assessments such that young engaged couples get maximum priority in allotment of housing, he also reiterated that "security deposits should not become a norm.” Having observed that "maintenance charges are not standard across colonies” he recommended the setting up of a committee comprising one representative of each colony to monitor the maintenance of the baugs.

Rather than see senior citizens lead a life of isolation and neglect in colonies he was of the view that the Punchayet accommodate all such people under one common shelter, possibly in a suburb of Bombay, where they are assured of companionship and comforts, and their flats be used to house young couples. This suggestion caused an irate lady to question his decision to "take away the dignity and security of an old person by taking away the house.” "Isolating the elderly is not a good idea,” supported another lady. When Dumasia explained that he had envisaged a "home away from home” a third lady from the audience, suffering from Parkinson’s disease and residing in the F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla spoke in fluent English how she was happy with the food and facilities offered to the inmates with regular medical care. "The tenants of Khareghat Colony don’t look down on us,” she noted, concluding, "Sir, your idea is not bad.”

Dumasia was also suggesting the setting up of a cell geared to help the "youth moving aimlessly.” Such a cell could develop their skills, help with education and careers, introduce them to prominent members of the community. Instead of holding regular 9 to 5 jobs, youths should be self-employed with assistance forthcoming for interest free loans to do business. When a member of the audience asked Dumasia how he was proposing to raise funds for his promises, he answered that such financial schemes are in place for which a greater awareness needs to be created.

Tehmtan Dumasia: "a people’s person”

Ervad Yezdi Panthaki

The next candidate Ervad Yezdi Panthaki had unsuccessfully contested one Punchayet election in the past, standing against Silloo Kavarana and Zarir Bhathena. In that election he had to face a different electorate as compared to this time when "even the giant candidates do not know the outcome of the election for even low-key candidates like us may have a broader base,” pointed out Panthaki.

The pugree and dagli clad Panthaki is hoping to be the "religious representative in BPP as trustee” with the support of family, friends, "well-wishers and even ill-wishers, if any.” Also with members of the clergy and laity at the fire temples where he has served, trustees and staff of the BPP where he has rendered honorary service during his 25 years of employment with Ges­tetner International, the staff at Doon­gerwadi, the residents of Godrej Baug where he was formerly president of the Godrej Baug Resi­dents Welfare Association and presently its vice president, those associated with the Athornan Mandal, Iran League and the Cusrow Baug Karani Agiary Trust with which he has been associated in different capacities, the residents of the Saronda Parsi Jarthosti Anjuman where he is trustee, as also of different anjumans where he has performed ceremonies and as member of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, the Lions and Freemasons with whom he has interacted, and fellow sportspeople from different colonies with whom and for whom he has organized games and competitions. Having participated and won body building competitions in his late sixties, he believes, "You need a strong mind, not a strong body.”

Describing himself as "energetic, enthusiastic, time sparing, (with a) never-say-die attitude, positive thinker yet humble, accessible and result-oriented” he feels the "desire to serve the community (when) it is at a crossroad.” He hopes to bring to the Punchayet "dignity, decorum and discipline.” As enunciated earlier he was keen to introduce rain water harvesting, solar energy conversion, water recycling, garbage recycling, plant nursery in Parsi colonies in the interest of a better environment.

Ervad Yezdi Pan­thaki: "need a strong mind”

To solve the housing needs of young couples he suggested implementing a scheme whereby the Punchayet could introduce a cooperative housing society and the couples be offered flats under a financial agreement that a fixed sum would be deducted directly from their salary against the house in their name. "Today no young couple is earning less than half a lakh a month and wouldn’t mind some thousands being deducted each month,” he believed. But looking at the prevailing rates of 60-70 lakh rupees for a flat, one man was concerned how long the monthly deductions of Rs. 10-20,000 would need to be continued to just repay the capital, forget the interest. But the idealist Panthaki maintained, "It’s not a question of figures.” He assured that the Punchayet "corpus would never be used… Expect some miracles if I come into the Punchayet.”

Phiroze Amroli­walla: "to repay society”

Phiroze Cawasji Amroliwalla

To win over the brethren of Khareghat Colony, Phiroze Amroliwalla reminded them, "I am the jamai (son-in-law) of Khareghat Colony…that has given me Aban Nusserwanji for a wife, Mahtab Tarapore to support my public work, my first income-tax consultant Paeterasp Patel… The time has come for me to repay society and the community…” Promising to infuse into the Punchayet his "grit, determination, honesty, sincerity of purpose and integrity which I hold above all else,” Amroliwalla challenged anyone to question his integrity.

Having lost his 25-year-old son who was his "strength and pillar” in a road accident he opted to close down his business and pursue his commitment to social work. Choosing not to align himself with any party for the trusteeship elections he stated, "I like my mind to be free of any shackles… I have canvassed with my own hard-earned money. I don’t want to buy your votes. I want to earn your votes… Nobody spends without intentions… All gro­ups have some agenda… I won’t allow anyone to profit while I am in the Puncha­yet… I am giving my time and sacrificing my family life. Would you value that or would you value a free meal?

"Today every candidate takes credit for introducing universal adult franchise (UAF) but it was in 1993 from this very platform at a similar meeting organized by Paeterasp Patel (there were eight trusteeship candidates in the fray then) that I had said that I would fight for UAF which is a reality today,” he added, also taking credit for lowering the voter age from 21 to 18 as in the case of national elections. The present imbroglio about duplicate and triplicate certificates could have been avoided, he claimed, if the Punchayet had heeded his request of closing down all earlier registers (except the donor) and started a completely new register of voters. If he sought to take credit for UAF why had he not introduced a code of conduct for holding of the elections? enquired a lady lamenting that "for the next seven years we will have trustees without a code of conduct.” Amroliwalla cited the BPP's explanation that they "don’t have the manpower” to control the candidates. "I can’t change the rules of the game when the game is on…There will be watchful eyes should some unforeseen event take place. The chairman of the Punchayet said ‘our community is intelligent and honest,’ before advocating ‘internal vigilance.’” But the candidates have been assured that the ballot boxes will be sealed each time under the signature of the 32 candidates. "In a democracy I can only set an example. That is why I have dissociated myself from groups that have gone berserk…spending lakhs and crores…Elect me as trustee and I will try and convince my co-trustees (to formulate) a code of conduct. Voters should vote for independents…”

Audience at the Khareghat Colony meet

Another question sought his views on the Punchayet collecting money from Baug residents for the security provided. Keeping in mind that the baugs are meant for the poor, Amroliwalla maintained that the security fees should not be uniform but higher for those with two or three cars and much lower for those without any vehicle. "As a trustee I will beg of you with folded hands to contribute but any form of extortion I will not subscribe to…Making the custodian a scapegoat, telling him not to accept rents from those who do not pay for the security is not acceptable…”

While the other candidates professed their commitment to preserve the Doongerwadi lands and the dakhmen­ashini system, Amroliwalla did not refer to this subject in his introduction. But when a question explicitly sought his views on the topic, he noted that when his son passed away in Ernakulum 10 years ago and when his mother-in-law expired one-and-a-half years ago the family opted to consign the bodies to the dakhma at Bombay’s Doongerwadi. "I may have personal views that differ but as trustees we are sworn by the wishes of the settlors of the trust. That is the bounden duty of every trustee. When fears are expressed of the dakhma closing down, of the 52 acres of Doongerwadi land being sold…I will fight tooth and nail (to protect Doongerwadi).”

Yet another query for Amroliwalla made Dotivala intercept that the allotted time being over the two should meet downstairs but the questioner continued nevertheless: Why could the elections not be delayed for a further three months until a code of conduct is laid down? Expressing his support to this proposition, Amroliwalla concluded, "Whether I win or lose, playing the game fairly is important. My social work will continue 24x7…I may look unapproachable but that is because of the sadness in my heart for the last 10 years. The real Phiroze Amroliwalla is different…”

Dr Viraf Kapadia: "we have to interfere”

Dr Viraf Jehangir Kapadia

"The Bombay Parsi Punchayet is like a temple for the poor Parsis, but the trustees have no time for the poor, only for the affluent,” observed candidate Dr Viraf Kapadia, a pra­c­ticing homeopath who is trustee of the Bhikha Behram Well and the R. S. Sethna Charity Trust. If elected trustee "I will see that no poor Parsi is seen begging,” he announced. Unable to tolerate the Pun­chayet’s policy of selling flats to the rich, he noted that "it is the middle class and the lower middle class who will produce more children, not the paisawalla (rich) who will have one or none. The rich have no time for children, leaving them to be brought up by the servants… Aapra baap-daadaa mur­khaa hataa (were our forefathers fools that they had the underprivileged in mind)?”

He was critical of the BPP management for not circulating the annual accounts on alleged grounds that "they have no money, but they have money to print the BPP Review.” The BPP using the J. J. School premises for a reported paltry rent of Rs 250 whilst depriving the students of the School was also a cause of concern to Kapadia. The proposed residential tower at Godrej Baug he feared would permit a glimpse into the dakhmas. With his name often appearing as intervenor in litigations concerning the community, he urged the gathering, "As members of the Parsi community we have to interfere…I know the law. Dhéra-bhangi Parsi nahi thai saké (all and sundry cannot become Parsis).”

The meetings of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and the World Zoroastrian Congress sessions are like "picnics,” he stated, dwelling on the same subject: "population nathi…conversion karo (the numbers are dwindling so convert).”

Having studied in Bombay, Calcutta and London, Kapadia said he was active in Calcutta at the time of the Mandal Commission which was finalizing reservation of seats. When he urged the BPP to reserve seats for the community he was reportedly told, "We can take care from the womb to the tomb. We do not need reservations.” The affluent manage to go abroad to study, to get medical seats, but what about the common man? The BPP has a matrimonial bureau but when was the last time they held a function? were some of his queries.

Kapadia’s announcement that a marriage among two Zoroastrians deserved a flat from the BPP made someone from the audience enquire where he proposed to find so many flats. There are 300 flats ready at Nirlon and Panthaky Baug, claimed Kapadia saying he was friendly with members of the Alert Zoroastrians Association (which Kapadia through the charity commissioner’s intervention had played a role in getting flats released for housing applicants). "I have worked with Mother Teresa,” noted Kapadia, "If you do good, people will give donations.”

Ervad Tehmasp Mogul: "I can do a job in no time”

Ervad Tehmasp Rustomji Mogul

"For the first time in the history of the BPP will someone from the Udvada Anjuman be contesting the elections,” declared Ervad Tehmasp Mogul, clad in his dagli and pugree, saying he had given in his nomination on receiving "a message from my guru.” The Punchayet required a person like him "bad­maasi door kar­vaa… saaf-sufee kar­vaa (to clea­nse the Pun­chayet of misdemeanors). Everybody is a rascal/rogue. Ék-ék ni ninda karéch (backbiting against each other). What are you going to do? If you have no guts, don’t talk… Asalnaa vakhat maa jéva trustees hataa havé nathi (there are no more stoic trustees as of yore).” He remembered at the time of his building collapse then trustee B. K. Boman-Behram had ensured 24 hours’ security for the tenants with police bandobast (facilities), co-trustee Maneck Mistry gave them utensils. New flats were allotted.

"What is the meaning of a trustee?” asked Mogul who has been practicing as an advocate in the Bombay High Court for the last 45 years and when someone said "custodian of...” Mogul interjected, "No, no custodian. He must have a heart to look into the problems of the community…pardookh bhajan (absorb others’ pain)…Garibné maan aapvi (respect the poor)…Simplicity…” Quoting from the works of poets Narsinh and Kabir he added, "I have given lakhs of charity…Khuda maaru kaam paar karéch (God helps me accomplish my work)…I don’t state that in my manifesto…We require an able administrator in the Parsi Punchayet…

"What is religion, no one understands… Why are other persons bringing religion into the elections? The only people with authority to talk about religion are the dasturs, ervads, mobeds, some scholars… ‘Man without religion is a queer animal,’’’ he quoted an English author, adding, "We are all animals… I am not going to force you to give me votes. If you think I am the best, then vote for me.”

When a gentleman asked him what he had done for the progress of the mobeds, Mogul repeated, "The Parsi Punchayet has nothing to do with religion.” When the questioner persisted, wanting to know Mogul’s personal efforts for the priests, the candidate said he has spoken to and counseled young priests and referred to the efficacy of his prayers: When he prays the geh sarna "maari aankh ni sambhé ravaan ubha thayaach (before my eyes the souls of the dead have risen)…”

Has any candidate taken the trouble to find out the functions of a Parsi Punchayet trustee? was another query directed at Mogul. "The functions of a trustee are already described,” the priest replied briefly. "I can do a job in no time,” he snapped his fingers, saying there is no need to spend three-four hours in the Punchayet. "I have feelings for the community and blessings of the Magavan sahibs.”

Urvax Dhanda: "in the service of the people”

Urvax Kekhashru Dhanda

"I am not a good orator but my work will speak for me,” said the last speaker of the evening Urvax Dhanda, a partner in a construction business. Relating his travails to earn extra points on the merit rating list before he was allotted a house at Godrej Baug, Dhanda who has been president of the Godrej Baug Re­si­dents Welfare Association for three consecutive terms took credit for solving the water problem, re-laying the roads and introducing a cashless group mediclaim policy for the colony.

"In 2004 when leave and license was introduced, I and my colleagues opposed it. Now all candidates want to list this on their agenda because of the elections. Where were they earlier?” questioned Dhanda. Reading out other salient points from his manifesto as also his mission statement, he concluded, "I am for the people, of the people, by the people, and in the service of the people.”

The audience by then being too fatigued to raise any queries, Dotivala concluded the session by urging the voters to make "a right decision in the right direction.”

• • •

The independents’ day – III

In "The independents’ day” (September 7, 2008 and September 21, 2008) Parsiana had carried brief introductions to 17 and two candidates respectively contesting the Bombay Parsi Punchayet trusteeship elections. The last of the 32 candidates on whom information has just been made available is presented below:

Kersi Minocher Patel who has been racing on motorcycles for the past 36 years and has more than 30 years’ experience in organizing sports activities is keen to promote and provide better sports facilities for the youth of the community. Retired by profession, he earlier used to manufacture wooden barrels and folding wooden chairs at Yezdi Furniture and Products. He then started RNZ service station for scooters and managed Daulat Abad chikoo farm in Dahanu.

Offering to devote "all his time to serve the people,” Patel who describes himself as "always available and easily approachable” would like to solve the housing shortage in the community by taking advantage of Government of Maharashtra’s Cluster Development Plan. Besides reconstructing old, dilapidated buildings and chawls he hopes to see institutions impart higher education in all fields and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities within everybody’s reach.