The Federation in isolation - II

The maintenance and upkeep of community properties dominated the discussions at the one-and-a-half-day executive council meeting of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) in Valsad on March 12 and 13, 2011.

With all the major anjumans absent, barring two, and with no guest speakers monopolizing the time, the smaller associations availed of the opportunity to narrate their litany of woes: property disputes, encroachment, shortage of funds, dearth of priests... No solutions were forthcoming but vague assurances of monetary assistance were mentioned.

The small Valsad Parsi Anjuman was applauded by all the delegates for organizing the first FPZAI meet in the south Gujarat town as even rickshawallas inquired of their fares what was transpiring at the Bejan Baug venue.

The Thana anjuman was the only association planning on extending their physical assets with the current 900 sq ft otla (foyer) being extended to 4,500 sq ft. "We want to make it available for weddings, navjotes… hopefully all work will be completed in 10 months,” said Pervez Bhesania. Thana has a 231-year-old agiary with five mobeds catering to a population of 500 to 700. "Our income is sufficient. We hope to soon double it,” he added.

Persi Buhariwala of the Vyara anjuman said that they are in need of a bungli. "We have ample space,” he noted. "We need help.” The town has a Parsi population of around 150.

Marazban Wadia of Davier said they need mobeds. "We advertised three times... Nobody wants to live alone.” The anjuman wants to build a dharamshala but are "short of funds.” Davier has around 23 to 25 residents.

West zone B vice president Areez Khambatta noted that Wadia was a para-mobed. Wadia noted that though he was a behdin he had "passed the course” to perform basic priestly duties. "If my family was settled I could take up agiary work.”

Anahita Desai representing Sholapur noted the town had an aramgah and dadgah but their mobed expired and his brother was tending the fire. "We need a priest,” she noted adding the salary would be around Rs 8,000 a month. There was also encroachment on the aramgah and Rs 2,00,000 was required to repair the wall.

The local deputy collector suggested the anjuman donate the lands to Muslims for their aramgah which was running out of space, said Desai, but she was firm the land would not be given to them.

North zone vice president Tehmton Anklesaria suggested the aramgah lands be sold to the Muslims but FPZAI president and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta noted "aram­gah land would be difficult to sell.”

Pervin Jehangir from Ilav interjected that the anjuman would have to study the trust deed to ascertain "what is the purpose of the land” and whether it could be sold.

Clockwise from top left: BPP’s Godrej Dotivala, Mehli Colah and Cawas Panthaki; Sorab Katpitia, Tannaz Parakh, Anahita Desai, Homai Engineer, Mani Clubwalla, Pervez Bhesania, Zarsis Udhnawala, Noshir Paghdiwalla, Merwan and Pervez Irani

Pervez Irani of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman commented, "We must know how best to get revenue from the land. No land can be taken from anyone. We are not well versed in the rules. If the land is good we must safeguard it for the future. Get the maximum benefit.” He recommended the setting up of a committee of experts.

Dinyar Nakra representing Visha­kha­pat­nam questioned why the aramgah land could not be protected at a cost of Rs 2,00,000? "Fix the wall and then talk of other things,” he suggested.

The Agra dharamshala requires Rs 1,25,000 for repairs, said Porus Debara. Agra has a Parsi population of 30 of which four residents are in transferable jobs.

The bungli in Belgaum is in "bad shape,” stated Maki Kapadia. Around Rs 2,50,000-3,00,000 will be required of which Rs 80,000 had already been collected.

BPP trustee Yazdi Desai who is joint honorary treasurer of the Federation summed up the monetary requirements of the various anjumans and noted around Rs 20,00,000 were required for one-time repairs and Rs 3,40,000 for recurring expenses.

Mehta noted that "anybody who adopts an agiary has to adopt on a perpetual basis and will have no say in the running of the agiary.”

Aspi Sui of Pardi stated, "Our land is usurped. We need Rs 5,00,000-6,00,000 to vacate two people who are living there. They want to be relocated. If we can do this we can save the land which is possibly worth Rs 60,00,000.” Mehta recommended that Pardi trustee Jal Pardiwalla "should make an application to us and the Federation will look into it.”

Kapadia referred to "a small agiary in Igatpuri and a dakhma that is surrounded by someone else’s property.” The anjuman is in negotiation with the party but a wealthy Parsi is not contributing any money for the settlement.

"Unfortunately cold winds from the north are blowing,” said Khambatta. "This is affecting our orthodox Gujarat anjumans. Parsi women married to non-Parsis remain present during our religious ceremonies for which the Valsad anjuman has to be complimented on stopping this. Even if it means fighting in courts. The (liberals) want to replace dakhmenashini with cremation. They want to make their actions official. In Ahmedabad our priests refuse. One high priest has absurdly propagated gender equality in his article in the FEZANA Journal.” A copy of the article along with a note from Khambatta denigrating Dastur Khurshed Dastoor was circulated to all the delegates by Khambatta.

Pervez Irani: "Please do not criticize our high priests. You have no right to.”

Khambatta: "Sit down I am talking.”

Mehta to Khambatta: "Please stop.”

Irani: "If he can tell me to sit down, why can’t you tell him to stop? Please tell him not to criticize the high priests.”

Mehta: "I apologize.”

Irani: "He should not be allowed to distribute (material). Was your permission taken?”

Mehta: "No.”

Yasmin Sanjana representing Dumas noted, "After what (Dastur Khurshed) Dastoor said it is very confusing for a lay person like me as to who is right. Can we ask this august gathering who we should believe?”

Irani: "Ask the new council of high priests. In the past one priest said one thing and the other the opposite.”

Mehta: "There is confusion among the lay people.”

(L to R) Top row: Maki Kapadia, Porus Debara, Phiroze Ilavia, Rony Dick, Dr Bahadur Jokhi, Sarosh Buhariwala, Persi Buhariwala (holding mike); second row: Pervin Jehangir, Jehangir Dalal, Viraf Mirza, Parvez Italia, Aspi Sui, Dinyar Nakra, Yasmin Sanjana; third row: Meher Panthaki, Yezdi Panthaki, Marazban Wadia and Percy Mandviwala

Convening after the lunch break Mehta noted earlier discussions had ended "on a rather acrimonious note.” He informed the delegates that Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal was in the process of forming a council of high priests. "Last evening at one of the three functions I attended in Bombay a high priest mentioned to me that Goolrookh Gupta has married under the Hindu rites with pheras (walking around the fire). We need further proof. She has also converted. Therefore our case will be stronger.” He stated that Gupta had changed her first name and was filing her returns under the Hindu Undivided Family category.

Sorab Katpitia of Surat stated in his report on defunct anjumans "that in so many cases after the trustees’ demise other persons enter and demolish the agiary, etc and build multi-story buildings.” He noted in 1990 the last surviving trustee of the Dharwar anjuman who he met in Hubli had requested him to take charge of the property as there were no Parsis in Dharwar. "Our experience shows that when the money comes then people come to claim the money. My concern is to save the property.”

Jehangir Dalal of Hubli claimed the price that Katpitia was stating for the property "is very less. I have another party… better price. On what basis are you ready to sell (the land. The property) was given to safeguard not to sell.”

Katpitia: "I have not fixed the price.”

Mehta: "We should sell to the highest buyers.”

South zone vice president Kerfegar Antia conveyed that an individual is the sole signatory to the property. He also sought to ascertain the status on Rs 75,00,000 given as earnest money for the land deal and reportedly kept in escrow account.

Kapadia: "Whose name is on the saatbara uttara.”

Khambatta noted that "there have been no trustees for the last 30 years (for some anjumans/trusts). People have got names changed and some property sold.”

Zarsis Udhnawala from Thana: "You should protect the property.” He wanted to know how the money received from the sale would be divided.

Mehta: "Thirty percent of the net receipts are kept for the beneficiaries of Dharwar. Seventy percent is given to other anjumans for schemes. If there are no beneficiaries in the area then the amount remains with the Federation.”

Irani: "How do we know the person is from Dharwar?”

Mehta: "Leave it for us to prove.”

Delegates at the Bejon Baug dining verandah

When Katpitia suggested that a fire from one of the defunct, or soon to be defunct anjumans could be shifted to Borivli as they had no agiary, Borivli and Suburban Zoroastrian Association president Noshir Paghdiwalla replied, "At the present moment we don’t have any place. If we get a fire some persons said ‘we will help.’”

Mehta: "Look for space. Once a place is there the fire will come.”

Viraf Mirza of Chattissgarh noted there were only three women residing there, the youngest of whom is 17 years old. He requested the Federation to put the name of a nominee.

Mehta: "Please write to the Federation.”

Mirza: "We have already written.”

Anklesaria noted the anjuman has two-and-a-half acres of prime land.

FPZAI joint honorary secretary and BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree said, "The Federation wants to safeguard community properties. This is our legacy.” He stressed the need for property documentation and data. "The more you cooperate the better. We will not misuse the trust vested in us. Let there be transparency and accountability. Let us be one family of Parsi Irani Zarthushtis where we increase our wealth. There are several properties with squatters and encroachers which we have to tackle. See us as a friend.” He estimated the value of properties of defunct anjumans to be around Rs 500 crores. "Let’s do something in this area for the collective good of the community.”

To be continued