Welcoming the winners

"You requested us to vote for you. Now it’s your turn to serve the community right earnestly…You all had promised to give good results, solve our problems,” Paeterasp Patel, president of the Khareghat Colony and Aderbad Group reminded the new board of trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) even as he congratulated them on their win against strong opposition at a special felicitation function organized by the Group at the Radio Club on November 8, 2008. He was particularly appreciative of social worker Arnavaz Mistry’s spectacular win — she led the winners by a margin of 3,000 votes — declaring, "The election has proved that work is worship.”

The event, organized by the Group under the leadership of veteran social worker Perviz Dotivala, simultaneously acknowledged the work and commitment of the outgoing board of trustees led by management guru Minoo Shroff, who had honored the invitation along with former BPP chairman Eruch Desai. Chairman emeritus Jamshed Guzder and prior chairman Dr Aspi Golwalla had regretted the invitation because of their advanced age. Former trustee Maneck Engineer and trustee elect Noshir Dadrawala had pleaded a prior engagement.

Above (from left): Ranina felicitating Dinshaw Mehta; Bomi Hansotia felicitating Arnavaz Mistry; (facing page) Havovi Dotivala with Khojeste Mistree. Below: Ranina addressing the gathering with dignitaries on the dais. All photos of the Cusrow Baug event by Nazneen K. Vajifdar, Spectravision Digital World

In her welcome address Dotivala lingered on the "impeccable character and honesty” of the outgoing board as she briefly retraced recent Punchayet history. She also underlined the increasing poverty in the community as attested by the beggars at fire temple doors and at wedding venues, setting a tough assignment for the incoming trustees: "Make it a point to see all are made self-sufficient.”

In a brief response Shroff noted, "Our great community lacks a sense of tolerance.” Suggesting that the Parsi Press had "overdone it,” Shroff exhorted the new trustees to "get down to it, tell us what you are going to do, (announce) a minimum common program…We may have erred in certain respects (but) you are not going to do in five years what men of standing have not done in 100 years: Our bottom sector, below the poverty line, is increasing…Move ahead for the larger good of the community.”

(L to R) Top row: Jimmy Mistry; Yazdi Desai, Rustom Tirandaz, Noshir Dadrawala. Middle row: High priests Khurshed Dastoor, (Dr) Firoze Kotwal and (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa. Bottom row: Earlier BPP chairmen and trustees (from left ­ — Eruch Desai, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Tamboly, current chairman Mehta and Minoo Shroff) with Perviz Dotivala and Paeterasp Patel (third and fourth from left)

Responding to the statements BPP chairman elect Dinshaw Mehta said, "It’s been a hard-fought election. A lot of bad blood has flowed (but) the community has given its mandate. Everybody, let us start afresh. We want the community to come together. There is a lot of poverty. Amelioration is required urgently. Our trustees are putting all their thoughts in this effort. Let us talk on a common platform, forge ahead with cooperation from each and every one of you.”

After Boman Katrak’s vote of thanks and Patel’s distribution of mementoes to his team, the evening proceeded the way Parsis like best — with drinks, dinner and bonhomie.

Arnavaz S. Mama

‘Forget the past’

The newly elected trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) have "taken the right step” when "they decided to bury the hatchet and pledged unanimously to work harmoniously towards the single goal of upliftment of the Zoroastrian community,” mentioned Bomi Hansotia, managing trustee of Cusrow Baug’s Karani Agiary on November 10, 2008 at a function organized by the trustees of the Karani Agiary to felicitate the new BPP board.

The evening started with a hum­bandagi led by Vada Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal. Also present were Vada Dasturs (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa and Khurshed Dastoor. The three High Priests were welcomed and felicitated by Hansotia, Ratoo Dastoor, president of the Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League and Havovi Dotivala, wife of the BPP’s public relations officer Godrej Dotivala. Hansotia then requested all present to stand for a minute in silence as a mark of respect to the memory and asho farohars of the Wadia family which has given the community "this beautiful colony and the Karani family for the wonderful agiary — a true emblem of strength and solace to many.”

The new trustees were congratulated by and received blessings from the Vada Dasturs. "I believe that a new dawn has emerged for our community, as the verdict given by a wide section of our members is to uphold the voice of tradition. It is comforting to note that our religious institutions and in particular Doonger­wadi are now in safe hands,” said JamaspAsa. People now want "a period of constructive growth and development, devoid of petty politics and factionalism,” he added, cautioning that the "community is now awake and your performance and policies will be monitored all the time.”

Urging the new board to serve the community with goodness and humility, Kotwal noted it is "time for the newly elected trustees of the BPP to work and translate their words into actions,” while Dastoor urged them to lift the sagging image of the august body to its original glory.

Above: The Khareghat Colony and Aderbad Group team with Patel (seated) and Dotivala (second from right). Bottom: A section of the Cusrow Baug gathering

Viraf Hansotia, who ably compered the evening’s proceedings, introduced each of the new trustees, asking them to say a few words. "I owe my victory entirely to Cusrow Baug,” trustee Noshir Dadrawala acknowledged, a statement well received by the audience. "Till the Cusrow Baug ballot boxes opened, I was not even in the race.” He enunciated his aspiration to serve the community with his heart and work in harmony with the six other trustees despite past differences. Harmony can exist despite some disagreement provided the latter is done in an agreeable manner. Dadrawala concluded by saying he wants to be remembered as a good trustee who should be asked at the end of the term "Why are you — instead of when are you stepping down.”

Rustom Tirandaz, who has begun his second stint as trustee said, "This small community is one that can bridge large differences in the biggest communities,” and reminded the audience of the rare achievement of Zoroastrians being on top posts of several corporates. He added: "It is sad that it is only the Parsis who are out to destroy Parsis.”

First time trustee Yazdi Desai said that during the elections he was able to get a better sense of the community. Expressing optimism over the new team he felt: "At the end of the seven year term, I am sure the community will want to re-elect all seven back to the BPP office.”

Trustee Khojeste Mistree said he is committed to work for the good of the community and to foster unity. The community had given a clear mandate in favor of upholding tradition and he was confident that the BPP would be back to its old glory and beyond. A lot needs to be done within the BPP office and Mistree assured listeners that there will be a qualitative and quantitative difference in the way it functions.

"From my early childhood I had this inherent quality of being useful to my family members, neighbors and everyone around me… I have been doing whatever I could in my personal capacity so far, with help from friends and well-wishers, and with support from mentors like the late Silloo Kavarana and late Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy,” trustee Arnavaz Mistry began. However, there being limitations to what an individual can achieve, when elections were announced Mistry "could not resist, but to jump into the fray, and I thought that this position would strengthen my hands immensely to do my chosen work.” She thanked the community for its unparalleled support in the elections and appreciated the work of the previous set of trustees who have passed down this precious legacy to the newly elected board. "The BPP is our baby now,” Mistry concluded.

Jimmy Mistry, the youngest trustee felt that his first election meeting at Cusrow Baug changed a great deal for him and got him much support. "Ambiguities have been wiped off the slate and a road map is being charted by the BPP trustees on issues of housing, Doongerwadi, youth and several burning issues.” He requested patience and support from the community while assuring them that the trustees will leave no stone unturned to execute their promises.

Left (top): Ranina and (below): Viraf Hansotia. Above (left): Godrej Dotivala being felicitated by a Cusrow Baug resident and (right) Ervad Yezdi Aibara being felicitated by another Cusrow Baug resident

Chairman Dinshaw Mehta commented, "The euphoria of the recent elections is still on with so many invitations to felicitation functions.” He called upon everyone, including friends and opponents, to forget the past and start a new and glorious chapter in the history of the Punchayet.

Ervad Yazdi Aibara, panthaky of Karani Agiary, invoked the blessings of Ahura Mazda on the team so that they could work with strength and fortitude.

Homi Ranina, trustee of the Karani Agiary and former BPP trustee, reminded the trustees that the Punchayet was meant to uphold traditions and preserve the properties within its control. Considering Mehta as his "worthy successor,” Ranina complimented the new chairman for the time and energy he has devoted to the community. He felt that the new board has a fine mix of people capable of protecting the valuable assets and properties and urged them to always remain accessible and available to the community and consider calling an Anjuman meeting at least once a year.

In his formal vote of thanks Ranina thanked the three High Priests for attending the function, the seven new trustees individually and community members for gracing the occasion. He felt that such functions should be held at least once a year to continue interaction with the trustees.

As per his request, Cusrow Baug resident Eruch Hodiwala then stepped forward to garland the trustees on behalf of the Salsette Parsi Colony Trust. Also honored with garlands were Mehli Colah, chief executive officer of the BPP and Godrej Dotivala.

The evening concluded with a demonstration of magic by Professor Hairat, one of the few Zoroastrian professional magicians, followed by a rendition of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti and the national anthem.

(With inputs from Noshir Dadrawala)

Sherene Vakil