Taking the initiative

WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) may pride itself on being watchdogs "but I call them the Taliban of the community,” said Muncherji Cama launching his electoral drive for trusteeship of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) against his main rival Anahita Desai, CEO (chief executive officer) and co-editor of the WAPIZ Page and wife of sitting BPP and WAPIZ trustee Yazdi Desai. Speaking to a packed audience at Allbless Baug on May 22, 2011 at a jashan and gahanbar sponsored by the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India (ZTFI) to commemorate the Dae mah, the chairman and managing director of The Bombay Samachar stated that WAPIZ "was not even a registered trust” but a cosmopolitan co-operative society. Even the Athornan Educational Trust started by WAPIZ founder trustees Homi Ranina and Khojeste Mistree "was a cosmopolitan trust, not a Parsi trust.” As non-Parsi Zoroastrians were in Brazil and in other parts of the world perhaps WAPIZ intended to also cater to their requirements, he jested.

Noting that WAPIZ nominees Yazdi and Anahita Desai, Firoza Punthakey Mistree and Tannaz Parakh represented small anjumans at the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) meetings despite residing in Bombay, Cama alleged that WAPIZ had taken control ("swallowed”) the all India body and now wants to do the same for the BPP. Yazdi, after becoming a trustee of the BPP in 2008, now represents Bombay in the FPZAI while earlier he represented anju­mans such as Panch­gani, Badnera-Am­ravati and Jabalpur. Anahita represents the Sholapur anju­man.

Promising to spend half a day every week at the BPP office to be available to members of the community, Cama noted he shuttles between five different offices attending to various businesses and trusts. "A busy person knows how to manage time,” he noted adding that many matters could be resolved over the phone, and if not an appointment could be taken to meet him.

Whatever assets we have received from our forefathers "we must pass on to others,” he believes. His objective in standing for trusteeship was not "to help my family. I don’t want to be trustee for that.” It was not his intention to "run down” Anahita but he wanted to make it clear he was an independent.

In the 2008 trusteeship election, the first to be conducted under adult franchise, Cama had stood on the Adult Franchise for Progress (AFP) ticket along with seven other candidates, one of whom subsequently dropped out. "I was never with them mentally,” said Cama with reference to his orthodox leanings. He noted that though his father was cremated in 2001, he never attended the funeral ceremony. Though "I loved (my) father dearly… I did not go. I have not gone for any Parsi cremation” (applause).

His opponents allege Cama is "fond of litigation and that litigation will increase if I am elected… I run from litigation but I am not afraid to fight,” he retorted. He had "won all the cases” he has initiated. He noted that he did not initiate legal cases to harass tenants. As a matter of fact when he became a trustee of the Garib Zarthostiona Rehe­than Fund (GZRF) he reviewed the caseload and resolved some matters out of court. The only new cases the trust filed was when tenants inducted illegal sub-tenants/occupants. He pointed out that in the GZRF which comprises 40 buildings, the trust bears 100 percent of the repair cost while in the BPP, which prides itself on being the "most beneficent” landlord the tenants are required to shell out 50 percent (earlier it was 60 percent).

(clockwise from top left): Muncherji Cama, Dinshaw Mehta, Zarir Bhathena, Shiraz Guard, Frahnak Contractor and Arnavaz Mistry (Mistry and Bhathena photos: Sarosh Daruwalla)

While tenants did not receive monetary compensation for relinquishing their flats, any flat that was handed over or taken over was allotted without charging the new tenant any pugree compensation amount. Only a nominal monthly rent was to be paid.

Well-wishers told him to point out to the community that the GZRF trust deserves the "most beneficent landlord” title rather than the BPP but Cama retorted, "we are here to work, not advertise” our good deeds. "Friends don’t need explanations,” he countered and "opponents won’t believe you anyway.”

Critics said he was fierce looking and that he should smile more often if he wanted to win the election. He told them "God gave me this face” and there was nothing he could do about it.

As for what is published in The Bombay Samachar, Cama noted that the paper carried a considerable amount of news and advertisements and they may or may not reflect the owners’ thinking.

WAPIZ had alleged that his mother and he were on the same trust but he noted that most of the trusts they were on were "more of a private nature” and that the family "had not taken advantage” of their position. "We have put in money.” He averred that at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI) where he is the chairman, he had put in more money than anyone else.

Alert Zoroastrian Association’s leader Kersi Randeria

Not Bihar

Introducing Cama as a pavitra manas (pure man) lawyer, professor and academician Dr Frahnak Contractor cautioned the community against going the Bihar, Lalu-Rabri way (when Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad was indicted on corruption charges, he had his wife Rabri Devi appointed chief minister even though she lacked any qualification or experience to manage the impoverished state). "Ours is an intelligent community. Let us show expressively we have a lot of grey matter” by voting for a "silent and generous worker.” Electing a husband and wife to the same board of trustees she alleged was "against all norms of propriety.”

She recalled that when she asked Cama how many trusts he was a trustee of he replied, "I will have to count.” He is a trustee of over a 100 trusts, she informed the gathering.

"Opportunity knocks because it does not know if it is welcome. If you miss this bus you will miss it for ever. Laxmi chandlo karvaa aavé taré monu dhova nahi javanu (When Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth comes to bless you, do not squander the opportunity by choosing to wash your face).”

She termed Anahita "a very good social worker” but what the community required at this juncture was not another social worker but a leader "who can do whatever he thinks fit.” When you require a surgeon you don’t go to a lay person. "Surgeon nu kaam surgeon ach kari saké (a surgeon’s work can only be done by a surgeon).”

"Two elections before I was always on the other side of Dinshaw Mehta,” said chartered accountant and property developer Zarir Bhathena. But now "from A to Z I want to bring out the truth about what WAPIZ is doing. WAPIZ is causing quarrels in the community… What does WAPIZ stand for: War Against Parsi Irani Zoroastrians.” He alleged that because of the WAPIZ Page in the cosmopolitan press the commu­nity’s dirty linen was being washed in public.

trustees’ offspring Viraf Mehta and Yasmin Mistry.

He compared WAPIZ to the Bharatiya Janata Party which demolished the Babri Masjid saying they wanted to construct a Ram Mandir there. The WAPIZ talked about how they were going to save the community from the "dharam dubaos” (those who wish to destroy the religion). Despite WAPIZ’s misgivings and misdeeds "the religion has not drowned,” he noted.

He recalled that WAPIZ went to court opposing adult franchise in the community but lost. He himself had legally fought 34 injunctions brought by or instigated by WAPIZ when constructing Hilla Towers at Lalbaug, in the Wadia Agiary compound.

He stated that the comparison with Sir Cowasji Jehangir and Lady Hirabai Jehangir being in the trust at the same time was not an apt comparison with the Desai duo because "they (Jehangirs) gave to the trust, they did not take.” In contrast Yazdi and Anahita Desai stay in Rustom Baug on a leave and license basis; under section 31A they cannot take benefit from the trust as Desai is a sitting trustee, he claimed. Maneck Engineer and Dr Mehroo Bengalee, erstwhile BPP trustees, are tenants, not licensees, he added.

He referred to a letter written by Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa which appeared in the May 15, 2011 WAPIZ Page supporting Anahita Desai wherein he describes her "as a defender of agiaries from builders.” Bhathena phoned JamaspAsa and asked him to which agiaries he was referring. JamaspAsa reportedly replied "the Kappawalla agiary.” But Bhathena pointed out that his letter referred to "agiaries” and "builders,” not the singular, to which the high priest reportedly had no answer.

Bhathena noted Cama’s lineage included the Petit and Jeejeebhoy families and he had a "track record of service.”

musical entertainment

"Owner of WAPIZ”

When Dinshaw Mehta left WAPIZ and decided to support AFP, people said "chamatkar thayu (a miracle has taken place), said the BPP chairman.” Mehta suggested to his co-trustees they find a "consensus candidate” to save costs. He said he approached various prominent Parsis such as Hosi Sinor, former head of the ICICI bank, Keki Mistry, head of HDFC, Homai Modi who is involved in various community and cosmopolitan associations, Zareen Engineer, granddaughter of Muncherji Joshi and a WAPIZ member, Farrokh Kavarana, the respected Tata Sons director and son of former BPP trustee the late Silloo, and others. Nearly all turned down the offer citing the pressure on their time from existing commitments. Cama had told supporters then that he would not contest the elections. Mehta’s former WAPIZ political allies Mistree and Yazdi turned down Kavarana’s candidature in favor of Anahita, "They said Anahita Desai was better trustee material than Farrokh Kavarana,” Dinshaw remarked caustically.

Ahmedabad soft drink concentrate magnate Areez Khambatta, chairman of WAPIZ, vice-president of the FPZAI and a former head of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat "is the owner of WAPIZ,” claimed Mehta. "He is bankrolling WAPIZ. He funds the WAPIZ Page” that appears every fortnight or so in The Free Press Journal. "I do not know WAPIZ’s motives or their hidden agenda… their ambition has no boundary,” alleged Mehta.

Mehta said he pleaded with his co-trustees to hold the election after the monsoon as voters, especially elderly ones, would find it difficult to move out of their homes and stand in queues during the rainy season. Also the BPP would have to spend additional money on shamianas to protect voters from the rains. "In April all the trustees agreed to hold the elections after the monsoon.” The holding of an election in five centers cost the BPP around 15 to 20 lakhs rupees, said Mehta. This is the third election in three years. "When (WAPIZ) found out Muncherji Cama was not willing to stand they said let us take this opportunity” to promote Anahita, explained Mehta. "A husband and wife team is not good for the BPP or the community.”

"A member of the Traditional Mazdayasni group approached me to support Cama,” said Mehta. "For the good of the community I decided to wholeheartedly support him… The AFP label does not make a candidate liberal or orthodox… The BPP is not a religious body. We are guided by the high priests on (issues such as) Doongerwadi.” He noted that Cama’s candidature has been proposed by Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and seconded by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor. "What more can you have than the second high priest of Udvada” supporting you? queried Mehta.

He noted that BPP trustee Armaity Tirandaz was not supporting Anahita as erroneously reported in the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of May 22 but would remain neutral. A correction would be carried in the next issue of the publication. He urged the gathering to vote in large numbers for Cama so that "all the other four candidates lose their deposit.” Of the four, Anahita, Tehmtan Dumasia, Ervad Adi Gowadia and Noshir Gotla, Dumasia has withdrawn his candidature on May 25, the last date for doing so.

BPP trustee Arnavaz Mistry endorsed Mehta’s statements stating they were "all true and correct… Cama has helped many poor people.” He gives assistance liberally "but no one knows. Muncherji Cama is a good man. Trust him and give him your vote.”

She termed Cama a "shekhavat manas (generous man)” noting that his family "were donors. The community owes them a debt of gratitude.”