Readers' Forum
“Federation frontiers”
That properties of small and defunct Parsi anjumans are at risk was a subject anxiously debated by members of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) at a meeting held on January 26-27, 2013 in Bombay ("Federation frontiers,” Parsiana, February 21, 2013).
The report makes us realize the tragic conditions prevailing in the once leading and prosperous community. This is due to the growing trend of inter-communal marriages and adoption of non-Zoroastrian children under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. I believe that in the present Indian situation any attempt to carry out their conversion is most undesirable, imprudent and not in the interests of our minuscule community.
Mass migrations to greener pastures in the West and a lukewarm, over-liberal attitude towards the Zoroastrian religion and values, customs and traditions for which our ancestors sacrificed their lives and abandoned their ancient madar vatan, Iran, have led to this situation though several amongst us still carry the tag "Irani.” When I casually look around I am surprised to see the phenomenal growth in the number of followers of the Baha’i religion, both in India and abroad. Several of the followers have converted from Zoroastrianism in the recent past, though they are despised and bitterly persecuted in Iran. Have we as custodians of the Zarathushti din failed in conveying its profundity to the younger generation in a vastly tolerant Indian nation?
I am constrained to add to the woes facing our dwindling community by pointing out further instances of anjuman/trust properties that are sailing in the same leaky boat often navigated by our kin. They were entrusted to look after these properties for the future generations but have belied that trust with imprudence and total disregard towards our community, whose inheritance they flaunt when it suits them.
A most valuable piece of leasehold property belonging to the Mahabaleshwar Parsi Gymkhana worth crores of rupees has been deceitfully usurped by its non-Parsi custodians who now endeavor to transfer it into the anxious hands of a leading hotel group from Poona after having skillfully managed to get the Government leasehold property rights transferred to their names by questionable means with the connivance of the authorities. The details of this have already been communicated to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and I anxiously await their response through proper and prompt legal action. That is perhaps the only alternative left under the circumstances, before third party rights creep in and the sun sets on the Parsi property horizon.
Another instance is that of an old dakhma land at Satara, tucked far away on the abutting Poona-Bangalore National Highway NH 4. It is in rank dilapidated and desecrated condition, awaiting the inevitable usurpation by avaricious land grabbers. The dakhma land in question is both valuable and strategically situated. It falls within the jurisdiction of the Assistant Charity Commissioner at Satara. When I last inquired, I learnt that the trust had no trustee on record as all the trustees had expired.
In addition, Satara has the Satara Zarthoshti Anjuman Dar-e-Meher (Khan Dar-e-Meher) of over 100 years antiquity, whose 50th anniversary I recollect having personally attended when Dastur Faramroz Kutar (of Shahnameh fame) presided over the celebration to our joy and acclaim. The Dar-e-Meher still stands, a mute spectator to the tragic depletion of its once avid and numerous followers who are now virtually on the verge of extinction.
We need the services of full-time professional personnel to actively attend to such transgressions, as FPZAI meetings are by themselves not going to stem the rot. Most of our public charitable trusts have become private family fiefdoms, erected on properties and estates donated by worthy ancestors of a bygone age in the sanguine hope and trust that their descendants would carry on the torch of the magnificent Zoroastrian religion. Have we failed them?
Time is running out. The young are becoming old and the oldies extinct. The FPZAI has several learned and able members on its board to resolve the problems, if given the time and co-operation the matter deserves. Let not personal egos disrupt the efforts to resolve the dilemma that confronts our minuscule community, lest we get caught in the quagmire of internal rivalry to the joy and gratification of the usurpers. Such instances are on the rise across the country and perhaps require professional handling by members of the Parsi legal fraternity who could render legal aid to a deserving cause.
Dr DINSHAW D. KELAWALA
Panchgani, Dist Satara
The report makes us realize the tragic conditions prevailing in the once leading and prosperous community. This is due to the growing trend of inter-communal marriages and adoption of non-Zoroastrian children under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. I believe that in the present Indian situation any attempt to carry out their conversion is most undesirable, imprudent and not in the interests of our minuscule community.
Mass migrations to greener pastures in the West and a lukewarm, over-liberal attitude towards the Zoroastrian religion and values, customs and traditions for which our ancestors sacrificed their lives and abandoned their ancient madar vatan, Iran, have led to this situation though several amongst us still carry the tag "Irani.” When I casually look around I am surprised to see the phenomenal growth in the number of followers of the Baha’i religion, both in India and abroad. Several of the followers have converted from Zoroastrianism in the recent past, though they are despised and bitterly persecuted in Iran. Have we as custodians of the Zarathushti din failed in conveying its profundity to the younger generation in a vastly tolerant Indian nation?
I am constrained to add to the woes facing our dwindling community by pointing out further instances of anjuman/trust properties that are sailing in the same leaky boat often navigated by our kin. They were entrusted to look after these properties for the future generations but have belied that trust with imprudence and total disregard towards our community, whose inheritance they flaunt when it suits them.
A most valuable piece of leasehold property belonging to the Mahabaleshwar Parsi Gymkhana worth crores of rupees has been deceitfully usurped by its non-Parsi custodians who now endeavor to transfer it into the anxious hands of a leading hotel group from Poona after having skillfully managed to get the Government leasehold property rights transferred to their names by questionable means with the connivance of the authorities. The details of this have already been communicated to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and I anxiously await their response through proper and prompt legal action. That is perhaps the only alternative left under the circumstances, before third party rights creep in and the sun sets on the Parsi property horizon.
Another instance is that of an old dakhma land at Satara, tucked far away on the abutting Poona-Bangalore National Highway NH 4. It is in rank dilapidated and desecrated condition, awaiting the inevitable usurpation by avaricious land grabbers. The dakhma land in question is both valuable and strategically situated. It falls within the jurisdiction of the Assistant Charity Commissioner at Satara. When I last inquired, I learnt that the trust had no trustee on record as all the trustees had expired.
In addition, Satara has the Satara Zarthoshti Anjuman Dar-e-Meher (Khan Dar-e-Meher) of over 100 years antiquity, whose 50th anniversary I recollect having personally attended when Dastur Faramroz Kutar (of Shahnameh fame) presided over the celebration to our joy and acclaim. The Dar-e-Meher still stands, a mute spectator to the tragic depletion of its once avid and numerous followers who are now virtually on the verge of extinction.
We need the services of full-time professional personnel to actively attend to such transgressions, as FPZAI meetings are by themselves not going to stem the rot. Most of our public charitable trusts have become private family fiefdoms, erected on properties and estates donated by worthy ancestors of a bygone age in the sanguine hope and trust that their descendants would carry on the torch of the magnificent Zoroastrian religion. Have we failed them?
Time is running out. The young are becoming old and the oldies extinct. The FPZAI has several learned and able members on its board to resolve the problems, if given the time and co-operation the matter deserves. Let not personal egos disrupt the efforts to resolve the dilemma that confronts our minuscule community, lest we get caught in the quagmire of internal rivalry to the joy and gratification of the usurpers. Such instances are on the rise across the country and perhaps require professional handling by members of the Parsi legal fraternity who could render legal aid to a deserving cause.
Dr DINSHAW D. KELAWALA
Panchgani, Dist Satara
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