Mistry’s mission

"I thought I was alone,” said a contrite Jimmy Mistry addressing a packed audience at Dadar’s Palamkote Hall on August 22, 2008. The 37-year-old interior designer and developer who is contesting the trusteeship election for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) was acknowledging the support he received from well-wishers in the Mancherji Joshi Parsi Colony in Dadar.

Referring to the derogatory e-mails being circulated about him and the insinuations of financial impropriety, Mistry said, people "tell me the worst is yet to come. The worst is over,” he affirmed.

Dadar Parsi Colony’s (DPC) leading social activist Mithoo Jesia asked, "What are we coming to? Do we look for hidden agendas in everything? Those who can, do. Those who can’t, criticize. Parsi politics is the worst possible thing: People alleged (Mistry) had not made payment for his daughter’s navjote invitations; that caterer Tanaz Godiwala’s dinner bills were still pending. If it were not so sick, it would be funny,” Jesia observed.

She first came across Mistry when "as a lad of 24” he was working in the successful BPP trusteeship election campaign of Rustom Tirandaz. He made an impression on her. When he said later he was looking for finance for his business she referred him to Dinshaw Tamboly who sanctioned a loan from the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO). "Jimmy paid off the entire loan,” recalled Jesia.

Above: Jimmy Mistry addressing a section of the gathering.

She requested Mistry "to do something for the community, for Doonger­wadi, for the Colony. This was the beginning of the tryst with the Rustom Framna Agiary. He spent 28 lakhs. (He termed it) a gift of love for his mother…His mother prayed there every day even before Jimmy lent his hand. We (the trustees) would have been content with just a coat of paint. Today it is one of the best agiaries in Bombay.”

Mistry was then told of the "shortage of mobeds.” He believed "only if you improve” their living standards would priests’ sons opt for priesthood, recalled Jesia. He then started the mobed scheme. When he hosted a dinner for several hundred mobeds and their spouses at the ITC Grand Central Hotel people criticized him. "Do not mobeds have the right to enjoy themselves? To eat at a five star hotel?” queried Jesia.

Mistry believes that Parsi/Irani property should remain in community hands, said Jesia. When a building in the Colony was sold to non-Parsis, Mistry bought the property back. He has secured jobs for many Parsis. Yet people criticize him mercilessly. "It’s very sad. We need to hang our heads in shame,” she noted.

Perhaps anticipating some disturbance during the meeting compere Mahiyar Dastoor cautioned, "anybody breaking the decorum of the meeting will be politely but firmly told to leave the premises.”

Actor Boman Irani who was unable to attend the meet praised via a video recording "all the hard work” Mistry is doing. "We all support you.” And noted lawyer and DPC well-wisher Sohrab Morris in a message termed Mistry "young, energetic and active… give him all support.”

Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Athornan Madressa in Dadar, said Mistry "had done a lot of good things.” Unfortunately his good deeds were "underplayed” while the criticism was more vocal. "Anyone can be a victim of rumors,” he noted.

From left: Mistry, Mithoo Jesia, Mahiyar Dastoor, Dr Behram Bunsha, Dr Keki Turel, Navroze Siganporia and Boman Irani. All photos courtesy Sarosh Daruwalla, Mazda Audio Video Lab

When Mistry renovated the Rustom Framna Agiary everyone said it was "a flash in the pan. He proved them wrong.” He noted the work done by Mistry to "ameliorate the lot of the priests. Those over 65 are given pensions” Karanjia noted.

Mistry "spent three crores from his own pocket.” Referring to the ITC dinner Karanjia said, "he gave mobeds a good time — a five star treat with their spouses. He is still receiving flak for that project.”

No money received from donations was used for administrative expenses, averred Karanjia. Regarding Mistry’s plans for the Cama Athornan Madressa in Andheri, Karanjia said Mistry’s intentions "were misunderstood here also. He lost dear friends in the process.”

People allege he is out to "grab agiary lands” but he wants to build "priestly quarters, construct four to five residential quarters (for priests) in each agiary.”

Regarding Mistry’s view of not discriminating against children of Parsi women married to non-Parsis, Karanjia said this was a "personal comment straight from his heart. He says he will stand by the views of the Vada Dasturjis. One has to abide by the decisions of the high priests,” emphasized Karanjia. The priest also referred to the permanent exhibition being constructed in Mistry’s building "Della Towers” which is "a recreation of Persepolis.

"No single individual has done so much for so many at such a young age. Jimmy has a heart of gold. He’s not faultless (but) sincerely has the good of the community at heart. He has the vision and ability to change the face of the community.” Even if Mistry made "errors of judgment in his younger days,” Karanjia observed "those who dare always err.” Mistry had been "insulted, humiliated” and not given his due. Karanjia termed him "a young gem in the dazzling crown of the BPP trustees.”

DPC resident Dr Behram Bunsha, terming Mistry "a friend and patient,” recalled Mistry’s "humble beginnings” and the "hard times” he endured. He described the ambulance service provided by Mistry to the colonites as "a great boon. How many people have been aided, how many (lives) saved… he will make a wonderful BPP trustee. He bends backward to help.”

Bunsha told the gathering they will "never regret the decision (to vote for Mistry) unless you are close family.” (Mistry had referred to the "massive fights” he had at home when he told his wife Delna he wanted to contest.)

Dr Ramiyar Karanjia: Mistry "spent three crores from his own pocket”

Noted neurologist Dr Keki Turel referred to 37-year-old Mistry’s "phenomenal rise” and said this had resulted in his being "misjudged and misunderstood… he has the jigar (heart) to make so much money and give it to others.”

Turel recalled how his father who was the chairman of the Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank had sanctioned a two crore rupee loan to Mistry. "The rest is history as they say,” noted the neurosurgeon. He termed Mistry "flamboyant, fun loving, a serious thinker and our hero… His vision and passion needs to be applauded by electing him to the BPP.”

DPC social worker Navroze Siganporia stated, "Mehnat karé né paisa banavé (if you work hard you make money)… only a poor person knows what poverty is… the future is in your hands, in your vote. Our future is with Jimmy Mistry.”

Noted builder Boman Irani, who is Mistry’s cousin said Mistry "had always done things differently, not conventionally. He has set up so many institutions (he has) untiring dedication… Jimmy knows what he wants to do… he knows how to recognize the skills of people.”

Above left: crowd at entrance to the hall; Percy Chowdhry, Perizaad (Zorabian) and Boman Irani

"I’ve done my bit”

During the question answer session Dinyar Shroff asked Mistry the secret of his success. His reply was his passion to succeed "and my mother’s prayers… In the (past) five years the community has taken precedence over work. My family life is suffering. I’m balancing between the three.”

Pediatrician Dr Maharukh Joshi wanted to know if Mistry had built up a corpus for his charitable work to safeguard its future.

Mistry replied that 70 to 90 percent of the money utilized for charity "comes from my pocket.” For the mobed mediclaim insurance scheme he was now paying 100 percent of the premium as people circulated stories of mobeds being asked to contribute, though the amount given by them and others was minimal. "I don’t believe in corpuses,” said Mistry. "Till I’m alive I will continue (to fund) the scheme.”

Skit by Maxi and Mini (Mahiyar Panthaky left and Jehangir Karkaria)

When someone asked about closing down agiaries or disposing of community property, Mistry replied, "I don’t believe it’s right to stop what we can’t start.” He felt "one business house should adopt one agiary.” This way the fire temples would be well maintained. "Parsi property should only be for Parsi use. Do not talk of selling or leasing.” In response to another question regarding transfer of tenancy, Mistry said, "I’m against transfer fees.”

When Soli Modi asked about the dwindling Parsi/Irani population, Mistry replied he had three children. "I’ve done my bit,” he quipped. "I don’t see the trend (in the Parsi population) decreasing ever.”

Short skits by Maxi and Mini in between some of the speeches lent a lighter touch to the evening. The skit dialog focused on how a building (presumably Della Towers) had "all the necessary permits from the Bombay Municipal Corporation” and how the courts had "cleared all the documents” (people had alleged the building violated several municipal norms). The duo referred to "9,000 square feet specifically kept aside for a permanent exhibition center on Zoroastrian culture. The property alone would be worth more than 15 crore rupees. They also poked fun at the often voiced opinion that "builders and developers cannot be trustees of the BPP.”

In conclusion Mahiyar Dastoor referred to the "myths and misconceptions” people carried about Mistry. But for the Dadarites Mistry was "the face of the Dadar Parsi Colony to the outside world,” he added.