Consensus candidate

If news reports are to be believed, to avoid an election for trusteeship of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) a search was on to find a consensus candidate for the seat vacated as a result of the resignation of Noshir Dadrawala. The stated reason was that the BPP wants to avoid expenditure on another election. It was also reported that many Zoroastrians are unwilling to contest because of the mudslinging indulged in the past by a coterie in a mainstream newspaper. This mudslinging has spared none, making every right thinking Parsi/Irani shun such politics.

It appears that the two main architects of AFP (Adult Franchise for Progress), Berjis Desai and Kersi Randeria, are finding it difficult to put up a suitable candidate of their own to contest against the one chosen by BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta and the WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) group, as their candidates (with the exception of Dadrawala) lost in both the previous elections. There seems to be a split even in the Mehta-WAPIZ camp since each wants to ensure their own candidate.

It is surprising that Desai and the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA) were in such a tearing hurry and reportedly held a meeting with the BPP trustees to find a consensus candidate. Phi­roze Amroliwalla was a common choice, but he was not acceptable to WAPIZ who found him unsuitable, though he has become their supporter of late.

In the first election Amroliwalla could not be part of AFP as AZA was not in favor for reasons best known to them. Hence it is surprising that the same AZA is supporting him now after Muncherji Cama wisely opted out. It seems that AZA in its new avatar knows fully well that if another of their candidates loses an election it will mean the certain burial/cremation of their "organization.”

It is also surprising that BPP trustee Arnavaz Mistry’s daughter Yasmin is playing a leading role in the ZTFI (Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India) which is a baby of the AZA.

I feel that this is the right time for Randeria to contest the election instead of trying to be a mentor.

Whatever be the result, I once again request all to ensure that a strict code of conduct is observed so that the right candidate is elected and the post of trustee does not become hereditary especially since it is believed that ZYNG (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation) is meant to be a nursery for grooming the children of existing trustees. The BPP has never been a family affair and should not be allowed to degenerate into a ghér no ghambar.

HOMI DALAL

homeedalal@gmail.com