“A hornet’s nest”

In "A hornet’s nest” (Parsiana, March 7, 2012) about the Ahmedabad Parsi Gymkhana (APG), the president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP), joint secretary of the APP, I and a few other Parsis of Ahmedabad have been quoted (rightly or wrongly).

Until now those in the know of things like me, as a trustee of the Dhunjishaw and Manijeh Gamir Charitable Trust (DMGCT), had refrained from making this issue public as we felt that it was obligatory and mandatory for the APP to do so. On several occasions I had requested APP board members to inform the humdins about the initial and revised offer/suggestion by Ahmedabad Parsi Gymkhana (APG) regarding its intentions of shifting to the newly refurbished Sir Nowroji Vakil Community Hall at the sanatorium compound and using food court and adjacent land by "donating” an amount which, in my opinion, is peanuts considering the total area involved. Objections were raised by Manijeh Gamir (the principal and single largest donor) and trustees of DMGCT.

Unfortunately APP did not heed my request and as a result a number of falsehoods and rumors were being spread, such as the DMGCT has sued APP and APG, that APP has already struck a deal with APG to give away the hall, etc.

The humdins are yet not clear about certain matters and I feel they would be eager to know the following from APP:

Is APG’s offer for a large piece of land (approximately 2,000 square yards) still under consideration by APP?

If so, then what is the latest/exact amount offered by APG and for how many square yards?

Which portion of the land at the sanatorium compound is APP thinking of giving to APG despite knowing that APG has a clause (which is sacrosanct, meaning that it can never be changed) in its constitution that allows them to have 25 percent of its total members as non-Parsis. Non-Parsi members do not have any voting rights but otherwise enjoy the same privileges as Parsi members and are allowed to invite an unlimited number of guests. This, in effect, would mean more non-Parsis using the facilities/premises of APG at the sanatorium compound than Parsis.

If there is need to relocate the current residential occupants at the sanatorium compound, where will APP house them and who will bear the cost? This is provided the current residents are willing to be relocated.

Has APP already communicated their regrets to APG for not being able to entertain their offer regarding this prime land which could be used in the larger and better interest of the community?

Should APP itself not develop this piece of land for the benefit of its humdins?

Has the current APP board chosen to leave this issue for the next board to tackle as approximately two months are left of their current five-year term, after which it becomes a caretaker board till the next elections are held? Can a caretaker board execute such a transaction? Is this morally acceptable and legally allowed?

I would like to publicly thank Kershasp J. Shethna, APP president in particular, and all board members for granting DMGCT a meeting and hearing our objections to the suggestion of APG for using the refurbished hall for gymkhana activities. Gamir’s donation came with specific conditions — once the hall is refurbished it should be used for lagans, navjotes, community gatherings/dinners, and for the youth of our community as a meeting place, apart from some other general uses for the betterment of our community.

I would like to reiterate that neither Gamir nor the DMGCT trustees have any objection to APP giving the refurbished hall to a decorator on contract basis. This will mean the ownership of the hall will remain with APP and it will generate revenue while the donor’s wishes/objectives will also be fulfilled.

The DMGCT is very happy that, keeping in mind and respecting the donor’s wishes, the APP trustees have resolved unanimously that the refurbished hall, food court and the kitchen area will be kept intact and not given to APG for conducting its activities.

PORUS KARANJAWALLA

Ahmedabad

porusjk@gmail.com