“Media manners”

Though this writer is mature and humble enough to be aware that it bodes no good to speak ill of the dead and firmly believes that it is not for mere mortals to judge another, as no one can foretell one’s own tomorrow, on reading the contents of two consecutive editorials "Saints and sinners” and "Media manners” (Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, February 21 and March 7, 2009) she is intrigued enough to respond.

From your editorials one is inclined to conclude that the sibling and cronies of the late Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Rustom Tirandaz are out to give everyone a guilt trip about his untimely demise and lay the blame at others’ doors for an unforeseen bereavement that was purely an act of fate. At the condolence meet called by the BPP on February 11, 2009 at Palamkote Hall in Dadar, it was churlish of the departed trustee’s younger brother to accuse and hold the AZA (Alert Zoroastrians Association) responsible for the untimely demise of his brother due to tension. Life and death are beyond human control. The passing away of one’s loved one is always an irreplaceable and tragic loss, but family and friends have to dignifiedly accept it as the will of the Almighty, not overtly rave and rant against opponents for the unanticipated heartbreak they have been subjected to.

Before weepily proclaiming in public that pressure from the AZA was the cause of the abrupt departure from this world of his buddy-buddy and colleague, the present BPP chairman appears to have forgotten that he was himself under greater duress with the constant vilification against him during the last electioneering circuit. He was the butt end of one particularly distasteful advertisement during those highly charged days. But he outwitted his detractors to swim to safe shores and proved that he was not one to drown easily in rising waters. Why? Because it was destined to be.

Now, after his successful election, being one of the signatories from the past board of trustees to be reelected as chairman on the current panel and facing flak from the Charity Commissioner for contempt charges under 41A, his is a classic case of further acute anxiety build-up, what with the prospect of the present BPP board standing to be dissolved. Yet the street-smart fighter is alive and kicking and still rebelliously holding fort.

On the other hand, the deceased trustee’s win was a fluke. It was as much a shocker for him as for everyone else. He was not even considered a contender serious enough to be targeted. So what torment is the bereaved brother talking about? It was petty of the sibling to publicly accuse a lady friend for not promoting/supporting the late trustee any more. If a one-time loyalist is disillusioned that a candidate has feet of clay, it is that supporter’s personal call to break away.

To surmount the most challenging obstacles, all one needs is truth on one’s side. After assuming office what did the late trustee alone have to fear which did not affect the other six new trustees in the same rocking boat? Actions in public office are subject to scrutiny by competent authority, so unless there are skeletons, why fret?

MICKIE SORABJEE

nashmick@hotmail.com