Upholding tradition

"Why four candidates and not seven” from the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ)? asked founder trustee Khojeste Mistree. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) "is a democratic institution. We want a majority (of the seats but) we don’t want to dominate.”

Addressing a full gathering at the Fali Noshirwan Engineer Memorial Hall in the Lady Engineer School in Gamadia Colony in the evening of August 31, 2008 Mistree explained that after 30 years of working with the community he has realized, "one has to work within rather than without,” in order to be effective. Utilizing the infrastructure of the BPP one could achieve more.

Referring to his and the three-year-old WAPIZ’s "proven track record” he listed their successes. "The BMC (Bom­bay Municipal Corporation) passed 47 institutions of ours in one fell swoop… never in the history of the BMC have so many been given (heritage status) together.” He was referring to the agiaries and atash behrams listed as heritage structures thereby preventing any development in the compound or the structure without government and the heritage panel’s consent.

Many "fire temples have additional FSI (floor space index),” he noted. This excess FSI permits additional floors or new structures to be constructed. Referring to cases where agiary lands have been developed in the past Mistree noted, "enough is enough.”

"Who can fault us on tradition, on dakhmas or religion?” he queried. "We believe in upholding tradition. We believe in creating awareness.”

When a fire broke out in one of the dakhmas at Doongerwadi, "WAPIZ people went there, me and Yazdi Desai. It was not our job but we did it.” He claimed the BPP trustees arrived after him and Desai.

"We can bring back the vultures to Doongerwadi. Loko ni bolti ban thasé (detractors will then shut up)… We are not making false promises… we are listening and are in tune with your voices.”

He alleged that "community politics stopped the vulture project” he had envisioned for bringing the winged scavengers back to Doongerwadi. He referred to the "bogey” of diclofenac in human corpses killing vultures. He claimed large quantities of the pain killer drug were required for a vulture to die from it. Human beings consumed "a very minimal amount and that too taken every so many hours. Quantity ekdam ochhoo chè (is very small).”

"Dakhmenashini and certain other issues are non negotiable… cremate ni bungli… I don’t believe in that,” said Mistree. Those who want a prayer hall for people opting for other means of disposal of the dead can build their structures elsewhere at their own cost. "Let them put their money where their mouth is,” he added.

Mistree stated the first 88 pages of the BPP trust deed "talks about the land and the importance of why the (Doonger­wadi) land was given.”

He spoke about the tana ceremony that precedes the construction of the dakhma and a 20 kg silver nail used in the ceremony. A matrix is created resulting in a "spiritual grid” being formed in the Towers of Silence "which protects the soul.”

Mistree criticized the BPP and the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA) for releasing flats for allotment just before the elections allegedly to curry favor with the voters. "Do you think this is a correct electoral practice?” he asked.

Referring to the BPP trusteeship as "a crown of thorns,” Mistree added, "history will say it was worth wearing.”

Track record

Introducing businessman Yazdi Desai as "the youngest founder member” trustee of WAPIZ, compere Binaifer Sahukar referred to him as "an angry young man… he wants to come (to the BPP) and make a difference.”

"I wasn’t so (upset) in 2001,” said Desai, "but some developments in the community made me angry. I swore I would fight against all such developments.” He alleged some "lawyers and advocates met” probably at the Bombay Gymkhana and rubbished dakhmena­shini stating it was unhygienic, bodies were rotting and emitting foul smells. But at the same time cremation was not a suitable alternative because "Chandan­wadi kaun jai… tah parking bi nathi (Who wants to go to the crematorium at Chandanwadi? You don’t even get parking there).”

The BPP trustees passed a resolution allotting a bungli for the funerary ceremonies of those opting for alternate means of disposal to dakhmenashini. Then BPP trustee "Rustom Tirandaz was the only dissenting voice… that’s how we came to know about it.” When opposition to the allotment was built up "the trustees had to rescind their decision,” said Desai. They behaved as though Doongerwadi was their "baap nu maal (father’s property) that they could do what they wanted without consulting us.”

In 2005 WAPIZ was formed. "We needed a body… we could not fight alone,” said Desai. Terming the present elections as "epic” since all seven trusteeship seats were up for grabs, Desai spoke of the "power at your (voters) hands.” Referring to "the horse s---” in the BPP stables he stated, "clear (the manure) at one go.”

Belittling the Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) panel, he said "reject any panel that (AFP founder) Berjis Desai puts up…What credentials does he have? He says Parsis must die out for Zoroastrianism to survive. He terms the dakhmas garbage dumps.”

One of the AFP panel (Byram Jeejeebhoy) "has donated land for a cosmopolitan agiary… there is a limit to shamelessness.”

He urged the audience to "vote for a panel, vote for the WAPIZ panel. Everybody is making promises about Doongerwadi, youth education… judge WAPIZ by its past… see who is reliable, honest. Our organization has a great track record. We stopped (the formation) of a cosmopolitan world body of converts. The Parsi identity would have been wiped out.

"People say, we are always fighting. Look carefully. We are not fighting with everyone. We are fighting the wrong things (people are doing) without your knowledge… We will continue doing all the work the BPP is doing and much more. We’ll keep you informed of the progress… We have an excellent track record of transparency.”

Educationist Shirin Choksey told the gathering that "our religion has survived thousands and thousands of years. Don’t you think we can preserve it for another thousand years?” ("Yes,” replied the audience.)

"My vision is quality education for children… They need a good foundation,” stated the former principal of the Godrej Udyachal School at Vikhroli. Ref­erring to the burden — both academic and physical — students undergo she stated, "we have stolen their childhood.”

She spoke about setting up day care centers in the various baugs with professionals visiting. Reservation should be sought for the community in educational institutions founded and funded by Parsis/Iranis.

From left: Mistree, Desai, Choksey, Homi Ranina and Sahukar

"Best friend”

During the question answer session photographer Rustom Havewalla asked why the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly is "so much against you.”

Mistree replied, "We in WAPIZ believe in fair reporting. If the Parsi media were fair, WAPIZ would be their best friend.”

"In the case of the Jam-e-Jamshed there are many factions involved. The English pages have been taken over by a group of people. If we write (to the paper the article) is not taken or key lines are deleted or (publication) is delayed. The (Parsi media) has a tremendous bias (against WAPIZ). They are controlled by a very powerful group of reformists. We don’t believe we get fairness” from them.

Referring to the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meet in Ahmedabad end 2004 "before WAPIZ” was formed, Mistree claimed "52 anjumans democratically said they did not want (a cosmopolitan) world body.” The media alleged "there was a huge hullabaloo that lasted indefinitely… Khojeste Mistree was blamed for it. Goonda laiyo (brought thugs). I do not even know these people (who created the tamasha). But the blame was put at my doorstep…

"In the BPP boardroom agitators” barge in and disrupt the meeting. But "if for eight-and-a-half minutes people democratically express their feelings” it’s not acceptable, he said.

"We are telling the big boys (Parsi media owners) this is not right. Do you think it gives us pleasure to go to the Free Press Journal (FPJ)? It doesn’t,” noted Mistree. The FPJ carries the WAPIZ Page every alternate Friday. During the election the frequency has been upped to weekly. He said WAPIZ did not publish their own newsletter as the BPP would not permit them to distribute it in baugs while a newspaper could not be stopped.

"The Jamé, Bombay Samachar and Parsiana for years had been attacking us mercilessly. They referred to me as a ‘maggot’ and ‘so-called scholar.’ It’s easy to be armchair critics.”

The Samachar once said "the High Priests should be defrocked and that they are Don Quixotes” (impractical idealists)…

Member of audience: "Shame on the Parsi Press!”

Audience: "Shame.”

Mistree: "Great shame.”

"Full-time unpaid job”

Addressing the gathering at the start of the meet former BPP trustee and legal tax expert Homi Ranina said "most of the people standing (for the elections) don’t know what the BPP is about. It takes years to find out.”

Industrialist Naoroji Godrej "resigned after two years because he could not take the load and pressure,” claimed Ranina. (Godrej reportedly resigned after a dispute with some fellow trustees regarding accepting donations for allocation of flats at Godrej Baug — editors.)

Ranina stated he was a member of the Athornan Mandal 20 years before AFP candidate Nadir Modi became chairman. "The trust meetings were held in the evenings on working days. Modi said he had no time on working days. ‘On Saturdays I prepare for my legal cases on Monday,’ (Modi explained). To suit Modi the meetings were held on Sunday mornings. The BPP holds weekly meetings. The trustees are continuously meeting members of the Parsi community. You have to be available. It’s not an ordinary trust. It is a prestigious institution… people ring up at 11.30 at night to say ‘paani ban thai gayuch… Kai bi karo (the water supply has stopped, do something).’”

AFP candidate Sohrab Dastur says "he will sit from 4 p.m. onwards on Fridays,” said Ranina. "That’s simply not enough. It’s a full-time, unpaid job. You need a strong level of dedication.”

AFP candidate Keki Mistry is a full-time managing director of HDFC. "He is a brilliant man but will he be able to devote time?” queried Ranina.

Byram Jeejeebhoy another AFP candidate is a non-resident Indian, alleged Ranina. He spends more time in London than in India. Will he serve the community? Do we want motaa naam ké motaa kaam (a big name or great work)?” taunted Ranina.

Praising the four WAPIZ candidates (management consultant Bomi Kavina was unable to attend due to a prior engagement), Ranina stated "they will fulfill all expectations. Please make sure you go to the polling booths” and vote for them.