High priest designate

Ervad (Dr) Jamasp Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa was anointed Nayab Dastur (second in command) of the Zarthoshti Anjuman Atash Behram in Bombay on the 115th anniversary of its founding day, September 19, 2012. On that morning, Jamasp led 50 priests in a jashan in Contractor Hall on the first floor of the Atash Behram. Noted solicitor and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Burjor Antia, joint secretary and trustee of the Atash Behram announced the managing committee’s decision to appoint Jamasp high priest designate to much laudation by the dignitaries present, including Dasturs (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, (Dr) Peshotan Mirza and panthakis of various agiaries, noted the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of September 2, 2012.

Jashan at the Zarthoshti Anjuman Atash Behram and (right) Dastur (Dr)
Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa with son Dr Jamasp. Photos: Arish Patel, AFT Digital

Born on January 27, 1978, Jamasp is the only son of the present high priest, Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa. He chose his mother, noted nephrologist Dr Bakhtavar K. Dastur’s profession, and is a surgeon in the UK. Ordained a navar in 1991, Jamasp subsequently became a maratab. Having studied in Campion School in Bombay, he obtained his MBBS in 2000 from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Belapur, New Bombay and went to England for his higher education. A Member of the Royal College of Surgery since 2005, Jamasp also has a Master’s degree in Zoroastrian Studies from London’s prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies. On completion of specialized training in laparoscopy in the UK, he plans eventually to return to India.

"As far as I can remember, both the priesthood and surgery have been a calling and despite it being hard at times, I have tried to persevere in both fields,” Jamasp said in an interview with Parsi Times (PT) of September 22. "My parents and my sister (Dr Shirin K. Dastur, an anesthesiologist in England) have not only been my true guides but also good friends.” Somewhat apprehensive about the political implications of his future role as high priest, he told PT he would seek guidance from senior dasturs and felt that since ours is a "peaceful, knowledgeable and gentle community… an amicable solution should not be beyond us.”

Mistree, Desai open house

The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai will meet "community members” [presumably Parsi Irani Zoroastrians (PIZ)] on every second and fourth Saturday of the month at the WAPIZ office at the Framjee Cawasjee Institute at Dhobi Talao. So states a write-up on the WAPIZ Page in The Free Press Journal of September 28, 2012 and an advertisement in the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of September 30.

Parsis "who have any problems, or wish to discuss any issues can meet the two BPP trustees” between 2 and 6 p.m. Hopefully, the duo will be on time for these meetings.