Editorial Viewpoint
In the long run
The expected voter turnout of 8,500 Parsis/Iranis for the election of a single Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee barely six months after the last such elections for seven bears testimony to the community’s commitment to Universal Adult Franchise (UAF). Whatever may be the pros and cons of UAF and the inducements offered to people to attend the election rallies, the voter tally speaks for itself. The community has taken its responsibility seriously. Whichever candidate wins, he or she is the choice of the people.
If they choose Armaity Tirandaz it would imply they want an orthodox minded candidate who will gel with at least four of her co-trustees. This, as some voters argue, would permit the six-month old board to carry out the commitments made in October last year when the first elections under UAF were held for all seven seats.
If they vote for Maneck Engineer the implication could be the community wants a middle-of-the-road, liberal leaning individual who will counter the present majority on the board. They believe Engineer with his experience in civil engineering and on the BPP board which he served for six years, will bring a semblance of discipline and reason to the board’s ambitious housing and other programs.
Either choice could be right. The question is who should decide the outcome? In the past, under the old restricted franchise system anywhere from 600 to 1,200 voters showed up to cast their ballot. The total electorate was barely 2,500. Now with around 20,000 people registered and 13,000 showing up to vote in October and close to 8,500 in April, the result is more representative of people’s feelings, emotions and beliefs. (In the first four days of polling 7,322 voters cast their ballot. At the time of going to press polling at Rustom Baug had yet to take place.)
Allowing that UAF is a new concept for the BPP election (though nearly all over India and the world Zoroastrians elect their trustees/office bearers through UAF) and that there is no code of conduct in the offing, the Bombay community took cognizance of their responsibility.
Which may be more than what some of their leaders, elected or otherwise, did. While Engineer’s camp saw a clean campaign with no personal attacks on his opponent, the Tirandaz supporters lost no opportunity to deride Engineer, terming his contribution to the BPP during his tenure as “zero” and claiming he was responsible for holding up major community housing developments. In a letter to voters Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited chairman and managing director Jamshyd Godrej had stated, “Not only has he proven over the years to be extremely proficient in the management of the estates, he has also developed an enviable rapport with the top personnel of government and other statutory bodies.”
Forged letters, publication of a Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly look alike named Jam-e-Jamsheed were circulated to discredit Engineer and his well-wishers. During the polling BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta who vigorously campaigned for Tirandaz and lent his considerable electoral skills and finance for the battle, perched himself prominently outside the polling venue greeting voters.
It was only when he attempted to enter the room where the ballot boxes were being sealed at the end of the day’s polling that the election scrutinizers prevented him, stating only candidates could be present.
The rudeness shown to Dadar social worker Mithoo Jesia by over-enthusiastic Tirandaz volunteers at the Dadar Gymkhana when she objected to one of them standing in front of her at a section of the polling venue, highlighted a general disregard for people who over the years have given of their time, money and effort to work for the community. Jesia along with lawyer Nadir Modi were the key people in ensuring that the Mancherji Joshi Colony at Dadar remained a Parsi/Irani enclave when threatened by the non-Parsi builder lobby that was buying up old buildings, adding floors to them and selling them to the highest bidders.
Modi’s contribution was discredited and belittled when he stood for election on the Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) panel in October 2008 and now Jesia found working for the community does not ensure respect.
One may wish to dismiss all these incidents as being part and parcel of the electioneering process, trivial occurrences to be forgotten and overlooked when examining the larger picture. But one cannot always regain goodwill that is lost.
When entrepreneur Jimmy Mistry contested for the BPP election in October 2008 and won, the Dadar Parsi Colony backed him fully. This time many of his supporters including Jesia rooted for Engineer while he and his Parsi Resource Group favored Tirandaz. And Phiroze Amroliwalla who once supported the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA) that backed the AFP panel this time not only supported Tirandaz but struck out at his erstwhile allies. How either of them will rebuild their bridges is questionable. Politics may make for fleeting friendships but not all people involved in the political process are politicians.
Similarly Mehta may believe that all is fair in electoral politics but he has learned that old enmities don’t dissolve, they fester. He and his three colleagues on the board, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai may succeed in sidelining his two opponents, Arnavaz Mistry and Noshir Dadrawala. And depending on the outcome of the election he may have one more ally or foe. But how will he and his colleagues go about executing all their electoral promises? What goods can a divided board, or for that matter a divided community, deliver?
The transition from a politician to a statesperson is one few leaders make. That is why the history of many institutions end in ignominy. Whatever the system — and there is no doubt democracy is the best of the lot — it is the conduct of those in power, their sense of decency and fair play that may prove to be the most crucial ingredient in determining long-term success or failure.
If they choose Armaity Tirandaz it would imply they want an orthodox minded candidate who will gel with at least four of her co-trustees. This, as some voters argue, would permit the six-month old board to carry out the commitments made in October last year when the first elections under UAF were held for all seven seats.
If they vote for Maneck Engineer the implication could be the community wants a middle-of-the-road, liberal leaning individual who will counter the present majority on the board. They believe Engineer with his experience in civil engineering and on the BPP board which he served for six years, will bring a semblance of discipline and reason to the board’s ambitious housing and other programs.
Either choice could be right. The question is who should decide the outcome? In the past, under the old restricted franchise system anywhere from 600 to 1,200 voters showed up to cast their ballot. The total electorate was barely 2,500. Now with around 20,000 people registered and 13,000 showing up to vote in October and close to 8,500 in April, the result is more representative of people’s feelings, emotions and beliefs. (In the first four days of polling 7,322 voters cast their ballot. At the time of going to press polling at Rustom Baug had yet to take place.)
Allowing that UAF is a new concept for the BPP election (though nearly all over India and the world Zoroastrians elect their trustees/office bearers through UAF) and that there is no code of conduct in the offing, the Bombay community took cognizance of their responsibility.
Which may be more than what some of their leaders, elected or otherwise, did. While Engineer’s camp saw a clean campaign with no personal attacks on his opponent, the Tirandaz supporters lost no opportunity to deride Engineer, terming his contribution to the BPP during his tenure as “zero” and claiming he was responsible for holding up major community housing developments. In a letter to voters Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited chairman and managing director Jamshyd Godrej had stated, “Not only has he proven over the years to be extremely proficient in the management of the estates, he has also developed an enviable rapport with the top personnel of government and other statutory bodies.”
Forged letters, publication of a Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly look alike named Jam-e-Jamsheed were circulated to discredit Engineer and his well-wishers. During the polling BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta who vigorously campaigned for Tirandaz and lent his considerable electoral skills and finance for the battle, perched himself prominently outside the polling venue greeting voters.
It was only when he attempted to enter the room where the ballot boxes were being sealed at the end of the day’s polling that the election scrutinizers prevented him, stating only candidates could be present.
The rudeness shown to Dadar social worker Mithoo Jesia by over-enthusiastic Tirandaz volunteers at the Dadar Gymkhana when she objected to one of them standing in front of her at a section of the polling venue, highlighted a general disregard for people who over the years have given of their time, money and effort to work for the community. Jesia along with lawyer Nadir Modi were the key people in ensuring that the Mancherji Joshi Colony at Dadar remained a Parsi/Irani enclave when threatened by the non-Parsi builder lobby that was buying up old buildings, adding floors to them and selling them to the highest bidders.
Modi’s contribution was discredited and belittled when he stood for election on the Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) panel in October 2008 and now Jesia found working for the community does not ensure respect.
One may wish to dismiss all these incidents as being part and parcel of the electioneering process, trivial occurrences to be forgotten and overlooked when examining the larger picture. But one cannot always regain goodwill that is lost.
When entrepreneur Jimmy Mistry contested for the BPP election in October 2008 and won, the Dadar Parsi Colony backed him fully. This time many of his supporters including Jesia rooted for Engineer while he and his Parsi Resource Group favored Tirandaz. And Phiroze Amroliwalla who once supported the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA) that backed the AFP panel this time not only supported Tirandaz but struck out at his erstwhile allies. How either of them will rebuild their bridges is questionable. Politics may make for fleeting friendships but not all people involved in the political process are politicians.
Similarly Mehta may believe that all is fair in electoral politics but he has learned that old enmities don’t dissolve, they fester. He and his three colleagues on the board, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai may succeed in sidelining his two opponents, Arnavaz Mistry and Noshir Dadrawala. And depending on the outcome of the election he may have one more ally or foe. But how will he and his colleagues go about executing all their electoral promises? What goods can a divided board, or for that matter a divided community, deliver?
The transition from a politician to a statesperson is one few leaders make. That is why the history of many institutions end in ignominy. Whatever the system — and there is no doubt democracy is the best of the lot — it is the conduct of those in power, their sense of decency and fair play that may prove to be the most crucial ingredient in determining long-term success or failure.
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