Double celebration

The Lady Jehangir Kothari Memorial Hall was packed to capacity on November 25, 2007 with 150 members of The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman present to honor Dr Mehroo D. Bengalee on her nomination to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and for the release of the much awaited book compiled by Dastur Nadirshah P. Unvalla, The Bangalore Parsis: Escapades, Hurdles and Memories, informs the Anjuman’s president Dinshaw Cawasji in a write-up sent to Parsiana.

Cawasji reveals that it was his father, the late Kali D. Cawasji, former president of the Anjuman who had motivated Unvalla to undertake this project as he felt there was "no one else in the community who could recount and record the various events, developments and historical issues concerning the history of the Parsis in Bangalore.” Unvalla worked painstakingly on the book for over three years along with his family and others, and Cawasji stated that it was the good fortune of the Anjuman to have Bengalee present to release it despite her hectic schedules in Maharashtra and Delhi.

Introducing Bengalee, honorary secretary Shereyar D. Vakil enumerated her various achievements while Roda Langrana, president of The Bangalore Zoroastrian Association, the cultural wing of the Anjuman, presented her with a floral sheaf. Cawasji presented Bengalee with a beautiful silver plaque to commemorate her visit to the Garden City.

Clockwise from top: Shereyar Vakil presenting shawl to Mehroo Bengalee as Dinshaw Cawasji looks on; Bengalee releasing Unvalla's book; Unvalla at the mike

Phiroze B. Bharda, past president of the Anjuman garlanded Unvalla, complimenting him on his labor of love through which posterity would learn about the rich heritage of the Parsis of Bangalore. Our vada dasturs and other priests in eminent positions no longer fearlessly express their views, suggestions and opposition to matters in the community as they did in earlier times, Bharda pointed out. To justify their exalted positions and the faith reposed in them, priests need to be protectors of the faith and feel free to express their views without fear of consequences. To ensure this, the welfare and emoluments of the vada dasturs and other priests should be made the responsibility of a newly constituted independent body with adequate financial resources so that the priests need not fear any possible backlash by way of loss or reduction in their emoluments or perquisites, he adds.

Bengalee presented Unvalla with a shawl, briefly introduced his book and then released it to enthusiastic applause. She praised Unvalla for his unflinching faith in Zoroastrian precepts and beliefs and his single-minded devotion to duty. Bengalee enunciated her fears over the break-up of the joint family system and erosion of age-old and time-tested values. Insensitivity of parents and lack of parental guidance have resulted in wayward children and non-performers. She revealed that her primary aim as member of the NCM would be to get the government to focus on the plight of the community and seek concessions for it. Her top priority would be to address the need to reserve five or six seats in all leading universities in various fields exclusively for Parsis.

Unvalla thanked Bengalee for coming to Bangalore to release his book and presented her with a shawl. Another shawl was presented to her by trustee Dr Merzi Marker for and on behalf of Cowasjee N. Dinshaw, also a trustee of the Anjuman. Addressing the gathering Unvalla said that during the 19th and the first half of the 20th century the elders of the Parsi Zoroastrian community were very religious and orthodox minded, visiting atash behrams and other religious institutions regularly. Our community has produced stalwarts in the fields of education, politics, medicine, law, sciences, architecture and business because of their faith in and devotion to our noble religion.

Ervad Adil N. Unvalla was requested by Vakil to present a shawl to his father on behalf of the Anjuman while Ervad Yezdi N. Unvalla, honorary treasurer and Unvalla’s younger son thanked all present for making the afternoon’s program a resounding success. The assemblage then partook of a hearty lunch hosted by the Unvalla family, the write-up concludes.