Editorial Viewpoint
Wit and venom
The election campaign has not been without humor. One voter phoned Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship candidate Muncherji Cama to ask him the venue of his function that evening. Cama replied there was no meeting that day and when the caller repeated the statement to confirm the fact, his wife could be heard in the background exclaiming “Péli ni bhi meeting aajé nathi; mané raaté raadhvu parsé (even Anahita Desai does not have a function tonight so I'll have to cook dinner)!” Another voter after an evening event not only bummed a ride off Cama — though he was going in the opposite direction — but even insisted on collecting five dinner boxes, two of which she claimed were on Cama’s behalf and his driver’s!
At his meetings the 54-year-old Cama has been quite willing to make light of his infirmities. When the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) compere referred to him as a “big fat potato” he pointed out that when shrewd Parsi women went to the bazaar they preferred to purchase rotund potatoes rather than shriveled ones. And potatoes can be sweet, noted another voter. When the opposition questioned Cama’s mobility on account of his portliness, he spoke about his nimbleness as a dancer.
The WAPIZ campaign in contrast has been devoid of humor. And if there were any offstage lighter moments, they are unlikely to share them with Parsiana (aside from a derogatory reference to the magazine by one of the WAPIZ trustees, the attacks have been mainly reserved for The Bombay Samachar columnist Berjis Desai).
When it began to rain at the WAPIZ Jer Baug meeting, BPP and WAPIZ trustee Khojeste Mistree termed the shower “a blessing.” When it continued and the crowd began to disperse he assured them it would be over soon. But when the shower turned into a downpour WAPIZ activist Tannaz Parakh called a halt to the meeting, advising the gathering to attend the neighboring Rustom Baug meet later that month. WAPIZ thoughtfully handed out umbrellas and asked voters to return them the next day or whenever convenient.
While Cama’s supporters have shied away from creating any provocation at the WAPIZ meets, Parakh has on at least two occasions when Parsiana was present tried to enter into a debate with Cama. At the Rustom Baug function the microphone in her hand was switched off while in Dadar the crowd booed her down.
In private Cama is sanguine about the election. If he wins, it is the community’s gain and if he loses, he is relieved of an additional, demanding responsibility. His co-workers find him easy to work with and he does not grudge the grueling rounds of campaigning. He appears at ease, answering questions with aplomb and humor. There appears to be no rancor when fielding queries from the audience and he is happiest when the questions are thoughtful.
Desai on the other hand comes across as an earnest and serious contender eager to win. She almost pleads with voters to give her a chance to serve them as a trustee. She stresses on her being “like-minded” and the need for people who think alike being on the board. She is akin to a loyal foot soldier awaiting orders from the high command.
Her meetings appear stage-managed, with WAPIZ supporters filling the empty chairs. Their raucous cheers, shouts of support and planted questions, make it impossible to accurately gauge her pull with voters. The danger herein lies in the candidate herself not knowing how the voters perceive her performance.
When Parsiana asked for some details on Desai, we were told she was not inclined to part with any information or material to the magazine. When the newly launched Parsi Times requested an interview, she refused, even though the editor states she is neutral and has no score to settle with WAPIZ or anyone else. The paper however is owned by a person who has supported candidates opposed to WAPIZ. In a democracy can this be a valid ground to refuse interaction with an independent Press? Some sections of the Parsi Press have been hostile to Mistree, her husband Yazdi Desai and WAPIZ in general but not Anahita in particular. This despite the fact that the slanderous WAPIZ Page she edits along with Parakh had made personal attacks on all and sundry, including two full pages decrying Parsiana (“a big fat zero”) and its editor. If she were independent minded she would enter into a discourse with her perceived opponents. But she has chosen to follow the approach adopted by Yazdi and Mistree both of whom refused to be interviewed by Parsiana in late 2008 following their electoral victories.
Reflecting on the last board, trustees Arnavaz Mistry, Jimmy Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz did not speak out publicly against the treatment meted out to their now erstwhile colleague, Noshir Dadrawala. Had they done so earlier he may not have resigned and the community would have been spared the rigors and expenses of another campaign. The total cost of the elections, including the amount spent by the candidates may range between one to one and a half crore rupees. Similarly in the case of the two renegade priests, had the remaining five trustees opposed the ill-conceived ban proposed by Mistree and Yazdi, the BPP would have saved over a crore of rupees (US $ 2,22,222) in legal fees and the trustees’ energies could have been directed to more constructive tasks. The code of conduct, the outdated electoral lists containing the names of many who have died or migrated, all remain unattended to.
With Jimmy, Khojeste and Yazdi on one side, BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta and Arnavaz Mistry on the other and Tirandaz being neutral, the trustees meetings are reportedly stormy with lengthy arguments on what should be minuted or not. In such an environment, no positive endeavors can be undertaken.
Whichever way the election goes, the BPP and the community are in for some stormy times.
At his meetings the 54-year-old Cama has been quite willing to make light of his infirmities. When the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) compere referred to him as a “big fat potato” he pointed out that when shrewd Parsi women went to the bazaar they preferred to purchase rotund potatoes rather than shriveled ones. And potatoes can be sweet, noted another voter. When the opposition questioned Cama’s mobility on account of his portliness, he spoke about his nimbleness as a dancer.
The WAPIZ campaign in contrast has been devoid of humor. And if there were any offstage lighter moments, they are unlikely to share them with Parsiana (aside from a derogatory reference to the magazine by one of the WAPIZ trustees, the attacks have been mainly reserved for The Bombay Samachar columnist Berjis Desai).
When it began to rain at the WAPIZ Jer Baug meeting, BPP and WAPIZ trustee Khojeste Mistree termed the shower “a blessing.” When it continued and the crowd began to disperse he assured them it would be over soon. But when the shower turned into a downpour WAPIZ activist Tannaz Parakh called a halt to the meeting, advising the gathering to attend the neighboring Rustom Baug meet later that month. WAPIZ thoughtfully handed out umbrellas and asked voters to return them the next day or whenever convenient.
While Cama’s supporters have shied away from creating any provocation at the WAPIZ meets, Parakh has on at least two occasions when Parsiana was present tried to enter into a debate with Cama. At the Rustom Baug function the microphone in her hand was switched off while in Dadar the crowd booed her down.
In private Cama is sanguine about the election. If he wins, it is the community’s gain and if he loses, he is relieved of an additional, demanding responsibility. His co-workers find him easy to work with and he does not grudge the grueling rounds of campaigning. He appears at ease, answering questions with aplomb and humor. There appears to be no rancor when fielding queries from the audience and he is happiest when the questions are thoughtful.
Desai on the other hand comes across as an earnest and serious contender eager to win. She almost pleads with voters to give her a chance to serve them as a trustee. She stresses on her being “like-minded” and the need for people who think alike being on the board. She is akin to a loyal foot soldier awaiting orders from the high command.
Her meetings appear stage-managed, with WAPIZ supporters filling the empty chairs. Their raucous cheers, shouts of support and planted questions, make it impossible to accurately gauge her pull with voters. The danger herein lies in the candidate herself not knowing how the voters perceive her performance.
When Parsiana asked for some details on Desai, we were told she was not inclined to part with any information or material to the magazine. When the newly launched Parsi Times requested an interview, she refused, even though the editor states she is neutral and has no score to settle with WAPIZ or anyone else. The paper however is owned by a person who has supported candidates opposed to WAPIZ. In a democracy can this be a valid ground to refuse interaction with an independent Press? Some sections of the Parsi Press have been hostile to Mistree, her husband Yazdi Desai and WAPIZ in general but not Anahita in particular. This despite the fact that the slanderous WAPIZ Page she edits along with Parakh had made personal attacks on all and sundry, including two full pages decrying Parsiana (“a big fat zero”) and its editor. If she were independent minded she would enter into a discourse with her perceived opponents. But she has chosen to follow the approach adopted by Yazdi and Mistree both of whom refused to be interviewed by Parsiana in late 2008 following their electoral victories.
Reflecting on the last board, trustees Arnavaz Mistry, Jimmy Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz did not speak out publicly against the treatment meted out to their now erstwhile colleague, Noshir Dadrawala. Had they done so earlier he may not have resigned and the community would have been spared the rigors and expenses of another campaign. The total cost of the elections, including the amount spent by the candidates may range between one to one and a half crore rupees. Similarly in the case of the two renegade priests, had the remaining five trustees opposed the ill-conceived ban proposed by Mistree and Yazdi, the BPP would have saved over a crore of rupees (US $ 2,22,222) in legal fees and the trustees’ energies could have been directed to more constructive tasks. The code of conduct, the outdated electoral lists containing the names of many who have died or migrated, all remain unattended to.
With Jimmy, Khojeste and Yazdi on one side, BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta and Arnavaz Mistry on the other and Tirandaz being neutral, the trustees meetings are reportedly stormy with lengthy arguments on what should be minuted or not. In such an environment, no positive endeavors can be undertaken.
Whichever way the election goes, the BPP and the community are in for some stormy times.
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