Farzin Batliwalla, RIP

The best tribute we can give the tragically snuffed out innocent life is a silent prayer for the angelic soul of little Farzin Bejan Batliwalla. In respect to her memory we must ensure there is no replay of any abominable case like hers ever again in our community.

Delay by red tape in procurement of government certificates is all too familiar in our country. If within two months of demise the son of a late sitting trustee and a municipal corporator legally represented that he was as yet unable to produce the death certificate for removal of his father’s name as accused in family trust matters pending before the Charity Commissioner and (elsewhere), then how could Nisha, the non-Parsi mother of tragedy victim Farzin be expected to produce an eight-year-old certificate of marriage on instant Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) demand, to prove her credentials of being legally wed to the Parsi Bejan Batliwalla who had fathered her three children only to desert his impoverished family some months ago, leaving them in the lurch?

It is perplexing that Nisha should have been asked for proof in the first place when it has now been revealed that the missing husband was employed by the BPP itself and had been living with his family in a charity trust building meant for Parsis in Vasai. In marriage or out of a live-in relationship, there is no denying the three children are born of this Parsi father. Surely the BPP keeps personal records of staff and their family members for reference in case of an emergency?

The least the BPP could have proffered was to ensure that Farzin was given a due Zoroastrian paidast/uthamna ritual.

The loss of this child’s life was the outcome of collective callousness. Educating her two younger brothers and initiating them into the Zoroastrian faith should now become the BPP’s responsibility if the family continues to live in Bombay. Counseling and material aid can also help Nisha overcome her insecurities/mental scarring and enable her to be a better mother to her two surviving boys. It is ironic that Farzin’s tragic destiny has paved the way for better living conditions for her family.

It is time our cash rich BPP invested in creating complete data on every single Parsi under their custodial authority. Ironically, four of our sitting trustees were so involved in wooing and feting voters to favor their consensus candidate that they had no time for concrete trustee responsibilities. Though flush with funds to ensure that BPP reins stay firmly in their control, they did not delve into their deep pockets for a personal dole to the Farzins in our community.

MICKIE SORABJEE

nashmik@hotmail.com