Great human being

From 1965 to 1967 I was posted in Jabalpore, Madhya Pradesh as sales and service representative of Gestetner International, dealing in cyclostyling machines. My job was to go from town to town to sell machines and ancillaries like stencils, inks and paper. All government establishments, including the armed forces, had to deal with the company via rate contracts with the Director General of Supplies and Disposals, and no officers had the authority to make direct purchases.

While visiting the Madhya Pradesh Army Headquarters I came to learn that the newly appointed commandant was a Parsi officer named Adi Sethna, so I made it a point to see him. I first visited his administrative office, checked up and serviced his machines and then asked his officer to permit me to meet the commandant. The officer refused, stating that outsiders could not see him without prior appointment. I persuaded the man to take in my visiting card, which he very reluctantly agreed to do. When he came out he seemed flabbergasted, for Sethna had ordered him to show me in.

The minute I entered the sprawling, fully carpeted office with its high ceiling and war trophies displayed all around, Sethna, about 40 years of age with a trim ramrod straight frame of over six feet, rose from his chair and greeted me with a warm handshake saying, "Aavoji, bèsoji (come in, please be seated).” After I sat down he asked his officer to order tea for both of us. This was brought in by an orderly and presented in a silver service. After making polite inquiries about my work and whereabouts, and the number of Parsis in and around Jabalpore, Sethna asked me about the purpose of my visit.

When I stated my dual purpose of servicing the machines and wanting to see him, he admired my guts, but told me that government officers cannot make direct purchases. However, in an attempt to bypass this problem, he called his officer and asked whether I could be compensated for servicing the machines. The officer argued, citing the rules. Sethna asked about other products that I was dealing in. I told him about the different colored papers newly introduced by my company and suggested that they be used by him for sending personal memos to different units. He readily agreed and asked his officer to purchase the papers and pay from the contingency fund.

In those days Jabalpore was a lovely cantonment with a large railway colony. There were about 250 Parsi residents with several traveling salesmen putting up in the Parsi Dharamshala. We had regular get-togethers, parties, family potluck meals and any house visited would welcome one warmly with food and spirits. With such a cordial community I decided to stage a Gujarati natak and after many rehearsals was able to put up a very entertaining program with the help of the late Rusi Daruwala, Roshan Cooper and family.

The trustees were debating whom to invite as chief guest and I suggested Sethna’s name. They turned this down saying his was too important a post and he was likely to turn down the invitation. I privately called on Sethna and explained to him the Anjuman’s hesitation. He laughed off their formality and assured me that he would certainly come along with his wife and family even if not invited as chief guest! When I disclosed this to the Anjuman members they were furious with me for taking the liberty to go to him without a formal invitation, but ultimately they came round.

The great day dawned and the chief guest was received by a nervous committee. I was backstage but heard Sethna inquiring about me and introducing himself and his family to the committee. The play, Rustomji rari uthya, written by Daruwala and myself, was hilarious and the hall resounded with Sethna’s guffaws. Later, he came backstage to see me and thank the cast as well as encourage all our children.

Nearly 25 years later, when I attended my first meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, I saw Sethna standing in the hall and went to meet him, reminding him of our days in Jabalpore. He recognized me even though I was wearing my priestly garb, and we had a long chat. We met at a number of Federation meetings and though our views differed he always respected me as a priest and made polite inquiries without any bias, prejudice or rancor.

Ervad YEZDI P. F. PANTHAKI

sypanthaki@hotmail.com