Readers' Forum
“BPP attendance record”
Apropos "BPP attendance record” (Events and Personalities, Parsiana, February 7, 2013) I feel that attendance is important in colleges. When attendance is not sufficient the student is debarred from appearing for university examinations. But, for the BPP (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) trustees, does it really matter?
We are all aware that at the time of elections the candidates spent a bomb to buy votes and were duly elected by the bawas as the chosen Magnificent Seven. So why complain now? Parsis have got the trustees they deserve. In their many many festas (tantrums), nowhere did the trustees promise that they would be punctual or not do gootli (play truant) from meetings.
Further, is their punctuality and attendance so very important or necessary? What are the functions of the trustees? If you ask me, they have to collect donations and pugrees and spend the money; and they are doing a wonderful job.
Are we not aware of the Allotmentgate case in the Bombay High Court where they spent lakhs if not crores to let the community know that not one, two or five but 65 deserving, needy, poor people were overlooked in the allotment of houses. Now, these are not those "poor ones” whose monthly income is Rs 90,000 and can afford to pay EMIs (equated monthly installments). Those earning Rs 90,000 per month will of course get flats whose market value is Rs 70 lakhs for Rs 20 lakhs, but for the others, the definition of "poor” will have to be redefined until which time they will have to wait.
Supposedly to protect the Zoroastrian religion, tarikat, reet-rivaj, customs, traditions, and so on, the trustees issued a fatwa against two priests and spent over a crore in the Bombay High Court, only to lose the case. However, it must be stated that in all sincerity they have moved the Supreme Court and will spend another fortune to protect the larger interest of the religion and the Parsi community. (The matter is under mediation — editors.)
What about the Vulturegate? Bowing to the wishes of the Parsi Popes and the staunchly orthodox, and to protect the 300-year-old practice of dakhmenashini, the trustees have considered signing a memorandum of understanding with the state/central government and their agencies to bring back the vultures for which they would have to budget Rs 25 crores and Rs 60 lakhs annually for 15 years. It is likely that due to inflation and escalation in the price of mutton, diesel, etc, Rs 25 crores may shoot up to Rs 75 crores and Rs 60 lakhs may shoot up to Rs 90 lakhs. But all this is in the interest of Parsi dharam, tarikat, reet-rivaj, customs, traditions.
So bawas should appreciate the good work that is being done by the BPP. In my opinion, just as the Government awards Bharat Ratna to Indian citizens, Parsis should institute an award called Parsi Ratna, and present it to our trustees in appreciation of the sweat and toil they put in.
Coming back to meetings, in the modern era, when physical presence is outdated (even in courts you can examine a witness by conference call), the BPP should introduce such a system for the convenience of the Magnificent Seven.
Instead of going overboard about attendance, Parsis should start to do the spadework for the next election and concentrate on the menu for the candidates’ campaign meetings. Do not forget that Parsi voters are ek din ka sultan (kings for a day) and once elections are over their market value crashes.
We are all aware that at the time of elections the candidates spent a bomb to buy votes and were duly elected by the bawas as the chosen Magnificent Seven. So why complain now? Parsis have got the trustees they deserve. In their many many festas (tantrums), nowhere did the trustees promise that they would be punctual or not do gootli (play truant) from meetings.
Further, is their punctuality and attendance so very important or necessary? What are the functions of the trustees? If you ask me, they have to collect donations and pugrees and spend the money; and they are doing a wonderful job.
Are we not aware of the Allotmentgate case in the Bombay High Court where they spent lakhs if not crores to let the community know that not one, two or five but 65 deserving, needy, poor people were overlooked in the allotment of houses. Now, these are not those "poor ones” whose monthly income is Rs 90,000 and can afford to pay EMIs (equated monthly installments). Those earning Rs 90,000 per month will of course get flats whose market value is Rs 70 lakhs for Rs 20 lakhs, but for the others, the definition of "poor” will have to be redefined until which time they will have to wait.
Supposedly to protect the Zoroastrian religion, tarikat, reet-rivaj, customs, traditions, and so on, the trustees issued a fatwa against two priests and spent over a crore in the Bombay High Court, only to lose the case. However, it must be stated that in all sincerity they have moved the Supreme Court and will spend another fortune to protect the larger interest of the religion and the Parsi community. (The matter is under mediation — editors.)
What about the Vulturegate? Bowing to the wishes of the Parsi Popes and the staunchly orthodox, and to protect the 300-year-old practice of dakhmenashini, the trustees have considered signing a memorandum of understanding with the state/central government and their agencies to bring back the vultures for which they would have to budget Rs 25 crores and Rs 60 lakhs annually for 15 years. It is likely that due to inflation and escalation in the price of mutton, diesel, etc, Rs 25 crores may shoot up to Rs 75 crores and Rs 60 lakhs may shoot up to Rs 90 lakhs. But all this is in the interest of Parsi dharam, tarikat, reet-rivaj, customs, traditions.
So bawas should appreciate the good work that is being done by the BPP. In my opinion, just as the Government awards Bharat Ratna to Indian citizens, Parsis should institute an award called Parsi Ratna, and present it to our trustees in appreciation of the sweat and toil they put in.
Coming back to meetings, in the modern era, when physical presence is outdated (even in courts you can examine a witness by conference call), the BPP should introduce such a system for the convenience of the Magnificent Seven.
Instead of going overboard about attendance, Parsis should start to do the spadework for the next election and concentrate on the menu for the candidates’ campaign meetings. Do not forget that Parsi voters are ek din ka sultan (kings for a day) and once elections are over their market value crashes.
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