10WZC
Call to Entrepreneurship
Industrialist Nadir Godrej speaks in rhyme to praise Parsi enterprise over time
Zoroastrians from ancient times
Ventured forth to East and West,
Adapted to various climes
And brought the world the very best
Of merchandise and thoughts as well.
Their partners could always tell
Their dealings were upright and fair.
This reputation everywhere
Helped the Parsi merchant shine.
They prospered in the China trade
Where giant fortunes were soon made.
But opulence was not the sign
The Parsi merchant had arrived.
The wealth for which he had strived
Was used to help one and all.
For charity was enjoined
And because of it they stood tall.
The nickname Readymoney coined
For Sir Cowasjee Jehangir
Makes it unmistakably clear
That Parsi merchants had a stash
But for a cause they’d hand out cash!
The pioneer was Jeejeebhoy
In trade and then philanthropy.
In Bombay everywhere you see
JJ this or that. We enjoy
His munificence to this day.
Sir Jamsetjee showed us the way.
Nadir Godrej: "look for future growth”
The ships on which the merchants sailed
Were built by Parsi enterprise.
The East India Company availed
These skills for its steady rise.
The Wadias built the biggest ships.
Ships that took the longest trips.
Everywhere their ships were sought.
So Bombay became a major port.
A place where businessmen could thrive.
Now cotton mills became a fad
Though J. N. Tata also had
A few, he boldly chose to strive
For industries that build a nation
Even though their creation
Would stretch the Tatas very thin.
And when he died the sons went on
Their troubles were borne with a grin.
His mantle they would bravely don.
And though the group was near death
The brothers fought to their last breath.
The group was able to survive
And in good time began to thrive.
They never took the easy way
But built all that the nation needed
And in this aim they succeeded.
The Taj Hotel still holds sway.
They pioneered hydropower and steel
And gave their workers the fairest deal.
The Tatas fought colonial might
And strove to make India strong.
JRD faced a different plight
Socialist policies that went wrong.
The airline that he built and prized
Was callously nationalized.
He looked beyond the grief and pain,
Without considering personal gain
He flew Air India to a lofty height.
Then politicians pushed him out
That moment, without a doubt
Marked the airline’s downward flight.
But JRD’s great success
Was the founding of TCS.
And greater still was the succession
For Ratan was the perfect heir.
His entry was a stormy session,
Till all the Satraps, reigning there,
One by one were asked to quit.
The group then ran on Ratan’s writ.
Once again they could succeed
As the economy was freed.
Tata Steel which had grown fat
Was made to be lean and mean.
Such change was quite unforeseen
Till Ratan put them on the mat.
But TCS was the asset that
Gave Ratan strength to throw his hat
So boldly in the global ring.
Some wondered why he ventured there.
Could it become a deadly fling?
But I don’t think that is fair.
Although his timing could have been better
We should salute this true go-getter
Not second guess him with hindsight.
The group has such a mighty bite
That they can chew what they like!
His greatest deed was something small
He took the quite outrageous call
That he could replace the motorbike
With a car that’s cheap and safe to boot.
The critics thought, "What a hoot!”
A lakh he said, a lakh it was.
The Nano is a solid car.
And when asked why, he said
"Because
A promise is a promise.” He’ll go far
For thinking big is Ratan’s way.
A challenge always makes his day,
Especially one with a common touch.
His latest feat is known as Swach
A way to make our water clean
At a cost affordable to all.
In our esteem, he stands so tall,
Because his group and trusts are seen
As working for the common good.
The world now wonders whoever could
Replace him in this mighty task.
The Tatas stand very tall.
But were there others one might ask?
The Wadias one would recall.
I hope it won’t cause some contention
If in passing I were to mention
My own grand uncle Ardeshir
Who in his time caused quite a stir!
The story that I have been told
States he befriended Mahatma Gandhi
To whom he said, "Though freedom’s dandy
And sure it’s good to be bold
But how can we be truly free
Without a vibrant economy?”
Mahatma Gandhi wisely agreed
His friend, Ardeshir, was quite right
But turned to him to sow the seed
Of India’s economic might.
He was a lawyer, no scientist,
But a PhD was never missed.
With experiments he proceeded,
And learnt the theory as he needed.
A fireproof safe was invented.
With inspiration and much toil
He made his soap from vegetable oil.
He made the best but lamented
That foreign goods were preferred.
But all the same he persevered.
His brother Pirojsha consolidated.
And thanks to him I now stand here.
That story has oft been stated.
I’ll say no more, you needn’t fear!
I surely couldn’t complete this history
Without mentioning Pallon Mistry.
In construction he truly towers
And silently he lends his powers
To the mighty Tata group
In which he holds a major share.
And now I think it’s only fair
That I bring bankers in the loop.
Pochkhanawala takes first rank
For setting up Central Bank.
Though A. D. Shroff built institutions,
He deserves a special prize
For fighting socialist delusions
With Forum of Free Enterprise.
Then Parsi Entrepreneurship slows.
The reason why no one knows.
The professional path to fame was found
For doctors, lawyers now abound
And scientists are also seen.
Large groups we no longer find,
Replaced perhaps by a different kind.
New enterprise comes on the scene
And unlike what had come before,
Professionals knock on the door.
M. N. Dastur comes to mind —
The quintessential engineer.
In the Agas and Forbes you will find
A similar pattern appear.
In Biotech there’s Villoo Patell
There’s Serum Institute as well
Which the Poonawallas sired
But Haffkine scientists were hired!
That doesn’t quite fit my theme
But Keki Gharda fits the bill
A synthesizer of great skill.
The media world fits in the scheme
While Ronnie Screwvala produces well,
Sam Balsara knows how to sell.
India wasn’t the only place
For Zoroastrian enterprise.
Iranians were also in the race
The Zartoshty brothers get the prize
For Mehraban and Faridoon
Proved to be a real boon
For Zoroastrian causes everywhere.
Earlier Arbab Rustam Guiv was there
And Tahamtan Aresh in recent times.
And Lord Bilimoria brought much cheer
To Indian food with Cobra beer.
I think I’ve shown with these rhymes
Our entrepreneurs are everywhere. Why
There’s Behram Avari Hotel in Dubai!
The purpose of this lengthy story
Is to look for future growth
And not to bask in ancient glory.
There’s not much harm if we do both.
I urge all the youngsters here
To start a business without fear.
With passion and a worthy cause,
Much courage, but a cautious pause
For a reasoned evaluation.
If in your dealings you are fair,
Your customers are shown great care
Your business truly serves the nation
And if you stay true to your creed
You too are destined to succeed.
And when you need a helping hand
The WZCC’s there.
Here you’ll find a like-minded band
Of people with whom you can share
Your trials and your tribulations.
And now they are in many nations.
In Houston nine years ago
Poetically I launched the show
And look at how it has spread!
Let enterprise once more soar
Both globally and even more
In India as it moves ahead.
For putting trade into the scheme
My thanks to Meher and her team.
The 9th Congress Symphony
"Spreading Peace and Love”
Zoroastrians come rejoice
And sing in joyful strains
May the Mazdayasni race
Live forever in grace.
Our beauty’s rich and rare
Charities beyond compare
Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
Ahura, thank you for these.
Renowned in every land
We toil with hearts and hands
Bringing joy to one and all
We leave our footprints in the sand.
Zoroastrians come unite
And hold our hands with pride
Ahura bless us all,
To spread peace and love worldwide!
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From the archive