Distorted report

In The Free Press Journal (FPJ) dated September 12, 2008 under the heading "Do the AFP (Adult Franchise for Progress) candidates have the time or track record of community work,” there is a reference to me which reads: "Soli Dastur has stated that he will spare two hours of his time on Fridays to interact with the community. Is this enough when a BPP (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) trustee’s job is 24/7? Try getting an appointment with Mr Dastur for professional matters. You may have to wait for a month!”

I am troubled by these distortions.

What I had committed at some of the meetings I had addressed was that, if elected, I would be available in the office of the BPP every Friday for two hours to listen to grievances of and, more importantly, to take advice from members of the community on what is required to be done. This would be in addition to whatever be the time required for the Punchayet work, including the weekly meetings. I do not think any of the four candidates sponsored by WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) has made any commitment to be available to meet the ordinary Parsi at a specified time and place. General reference to a trustee’s job being 24/7 serves no purpose. To trivialize a serious commitment shows bankruptcy of thought.

The allegation that one has to wait for a month for a professional appointment with me is completely and totally false. I always give top priority to non-professional commitments, i.e. when there is not to be a monetary reward. Perhaps if the writer of the piece had bothered to check with Khojeste Mistree I am sure he would have corroborated this fact from personal kn­o-w­­ledge. In life it is the really busy person who makes time for worthwhile pursuits. In lighter vein, the writer’s comment suggests I am a very busy professional person, yet surprisingly an "altu-faltu” Parsi — a title repeatedly conferred on myself and others in the FPJ. This only shows how WAPIZ blows hot and cold.

SOHRAB E. DASTUR