Balancing the board

"Do we need another social worker on the BPP (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) board of trustees? Or do we want a person with practical knowhow and corporate experience… an upright, honest, analytic, logical person not besmirched by an iota of corruption and scandal...a man of honor, to use an archaic term,” said lecturer Dara Khodaiji addressing a gathering at the Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Recreational Center (SCJRC) grounds outside the Tata Colony at Tardeo on March 26, 2009.

"Would you not vote for someone who was already a trustee?” asked Homi (Tiger) Bhagwagar, one of the many people responsible for salvaging the SCJRC grounds from neglect and encroachment.

"Look at the past track record,” he urged the gathering. Apologizing for the large number of unoccupied chairs at the venue, Bhagwagar explained that many people had gone to attend the Avan roz, Avan mahino parav. "Yesterday there was (also) a meeting. People are tired. We will go from house to house.”

Recalling a meeting to support the candidature of Armaity Tirandaz at Panthaky Baug on March 11, Khodaiji said "speaker after speaker” attacked Engineer. "It gave the impression that rather than promoting Armaity Tirandaz” they were turning Engineer into the BPP’s "whipping boy.”

Noting that people alleged Engineer was not orthodox, Khodaiji stated, "It is worth pointing out that when the solar panels were not functioning” at Doonger­wadi Engineer went about setting them right in his "quiet, efficient way… Does this seem like a person who is against dakhmenashini?”

Pointing out that the Towers of Silence are "sacred property protected by trust deeds and the courts,” he said, "The trustees cannot (construct) a cremate ni bungli” at Doongerwadi. The Bharucha Baug resident bemoaned the rumors spread in "the sordid business of gathering votes.”

Social worker Navroze Siganporia of Mancherji Joshi Colony at Dadar noted that though Engineer had worked for 35 years with Godrej and Boyce, "they are still not letting him go” even five years after he was due to retire. "Naoroji (Godrej) had total trust in him.” Former BPP trustee Dinshaw Tamboly echoing Khodaiji’s sentiments stated, "Maneck is capable of (contesting) on his own strengths. He does not need to speak of others’ weaknesses.”

Noting that the BPP was the second largest landlord in Bombay managing around 490 buildings consisting 5,000 or so flats, Tamboly queried, "To manage such a large estate who do we require? We are fortunate a man like Maneck Engineer has come forward.” He observed the present board was bereft of any lawyer or civil engineer.

Engineer is "the chief architect and builder of Godrej Baug… responsible for the construction of 2,40,000 sq m of industrial area, 1,80,000 sq m of residential area and 1,50,000 sq m of school buildings. He has a calm and balanced nature. He is a great asset to have on the board of the BPP.”

Clockwise from top left: Dinshaw Tamboly, Dara Khodaiji, Homi Bhagwagar, Cyrus Digaria, Shiraz Guard and Navroze Siganporia. Top: Maneck Engineer

Tamboly said Engineer did not believe "in rushing into haphazard development without understanding the consequences.” In Panthaky Baug two buildings were constructed by the BPP but the Bombay Municipal Corporation gave permission to occupy only one building as some of his colleagues on the BPP "did not agree to give the (area for the development) road” despite a legal commitment to do so. "The building is lying unallotted and unused for the last 10 years... Maneck is a technical man. Listen to his advice,” Tamboly counseled.

Stating that his opponents "only speak lies,” Engineer told the gathering he wanted to "give a clear picture” of his tenure in office. They say "for six years I have done nothing. The (BPP) minutes and records will show what I was asked to do and what I had done.”

He referred to the Nirlon Complex in Goregaon which consisted of four buildings situated on one-and-a-half acres of land. Three of the structures "were in good condition and one dilapidated.”

Plans were formulated to demolish the weak structure and construct three more buildings bringing the total to six. The income from the BPP corpus did not suffice for the project, so the N. M. Wadia Trust was approached. "We put the proposal before Nusli Wadia.” The BPP offered to name the complex after his father, Neville. Nusli said, "If my father’s name is to be associated (the place) must look like one of our baugs.”

Wadia accompanied by former BPP chairman Minoo Shroff visited the site and studied the plans. "Nusli did not like the blueprint. He told me to meet Mr Das Gupta, his chief engineer. I went to their Worli office. Three layouts were submitted of which one was approved and subsequently we started construction.” But the buildings were of uneven height, some three storied and one seven storied, observed Engineer.

Wadia asked Engineer, "if you can do anything” to make the elevation more symmetrical. Engineer approached noted architect Tehmuras Khareghat. Khare­ghat agreed to help free of charge and elevation plans were drawn up for all the buildings. We secured "the completion certificate before we resigned. They are ready for occupation.”

Engineer referred to the problems at Panthaky Baug in Andheri, Dhunbai­wadi, the A. H. Wadia Baug (Parel) and Dadar. "I have been wrongly maligned,” he said of the latter. Instead of approaching the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) for redevelopment, he said the trustees after consulting others agreed to reconstruct some structures and utilize the excess FSI (floor space index) for new construction. By doing so no built up area would have to be handed over to MHADA as compensation. The MHADA space will be given to non-Parsis, Engineer cautioned. BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta had contended that the BPP could buy the flats from MHADA and give them to Parsis/Iranis. Engineer has countered the trust may not be able to raise the required resources to do so.

The opposition has been claiming that "I will not be able to work with Dinshaw Mehta. I’ve known him for the past 30 years... there are differences between all individuals. These can be resolved over the table. There may be bolaa chaali (heated exchanges) one day but the next day we are friends. We have to work together to see the community does not suffer.”

As regards Doongerwadi, Engineer stated till around l998-99 the vulture population "went on reducing.” Highrise structures in the vicinity and decreasing vegetation were some of the causes. "To ensure the growth of vegetation the Godrej family was approached,” he recalled. Through the offices of the company’s horticulturist, hundreds of trees were planted. "Certain species fell... we provided other plants. Drip irrigation was introduced.”

Five solar panels had been erected and six were "in packed condition,” Engineer explained. "Erach Sabavala and Dr Speigel of Germany were approached on how to improve the functioning of the panels. A total of 12 solar panels have been erected to date.

Assuring voters on the status of Doongerwadi, Engineer stated the "lands are governed by trust deeds… the government will not give permission on private land to construct a crematorium. A crematorium pollutes the air,” scrubbers are required to cleanse the air, etc before it is released into the atmosphere.

Despite attempts by his opponents to mar his reputation Engineer said he "will not stoop to their level.” The intrinsic worth of a person always comes through in the end, he averred.

Cyrus Digaria, a resident of A. H. Wadia Baug recalled how the Kapadia Building in the Parel colony had been repaired several times. It was only during Engineer’s tenure that repairs were adequately carried out. The building would now stand "for more than 20 to 30 years,” he opined.

"None of the speakers has maligned the other candidate,” noted Shiraz Guard, the evening’s compere. Terming Engineer "a rare person” she exhorted the audience to utilize his "expertise. Vote for Maneck Engineer and bring balance to the (BPP) board.”