Editorial Viewpoint
New players in an old game
In the entire sorry spectacle that enfolded last month over the hosting of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (10WZC), one happy development stands out: the intervention of community activists and stalwarts to bring about a compromise between the warring Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees. Rather than let the Congress be annulled, the community’s lay leadership took matters in their own hands and brought the truant trustees to the negotiating table. Here, despite their misgivings, loathing and ideological differences, the belligerent factions were made to see reason.
No doubt it took the likes of the country’s leading industrialists such as Nusli Wadia, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Dr Nadir Godrej to arrive at a workable solution. They intervened on the urging of the local and global community. Forsaking their grueling business schedules they placated hurt egos, subdued ruffled tempers and in the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson, "by slow prudence (made) mild a rugged people and thro’ soft degrees subdue(d) them to the useful and the good” (Ulysses).
In an article in our November 7, 50th anniversary issue ("Rumblers along the road”), former BPP chairman Minoo Shroff referred to the "Acute fundamentalism, doctrinal and social differences (that) have emerged, tearing at the very fabric of our community.” He recommended setting up a council of advisors and dispute redressal fora whose members should be drawn from a legal background and "from among community leaders and social activists.”
But Shroff confided to Parsiana he was uncertain as to how one could go about institutionalizing such bodies. Judging by the avalanche of emails from aghast community leaders across the world, there is no dearth of those who are willing to spare their time, money and effort to keep matters on an even keel. Other communities have such fora so it is not a utopian concept.
Before the recent regrettable disputes became public the BPP trustees had two meetings at Wadia’s Neville House office in Ballard Estate. The purpose of these consultations was to resolve the alleged charges of financial embezzlement leveled against BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta by four of his co-trustees, Arnavaz Mistry, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai. The second meeting reportedly lasted from 2 p.m. till 9 p.m. At this marathon meet six trustees along with Wadia and community activist and proprietor of Parsi Times Kersi Randeria debated on Mehta’s fate, while the hapless chairman sat in a separate room. Wadia reportedly was keen on an informal inquiry being made initially into the allegations of financial impropriety rather than filing a police complaint, but the majority of trustees turned down the offer. It was left to Wadia to inform Mehta that he either face the music and take the community down with him or resign after the holding of the Congress. Mehta reportedly agreed to step down to save the community embarrassment, but when there was a lull while preparing the resignation agreement and letter, Mehta’s friend-turned-foe-turned-savior lawyer and community activist Berjis Desai was alerted about the developments by Mehta’s son Hormuz. Desai rushed over from his office a few buildings away and yanked Mehta out.
When the dispute became public, six ex-trustees of the BPP, Minoo Shroff, Jamsheed Kanga, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Tamboly, Maneck Engineer and Burjor Antia asked to meet with the current seven to work out a via media. Claiming a joint meeting would serve no purpose the four who had brought the charges against Mehta asked to meet them separately from their three dissenting co-trustees. Not much headway was made in that initial meet. Later that evening the four passed the disastrous resolution canceling the 10WZC. They euphemistically referred to it as a postponement. They also moved the Charity Commissioner (CC) under sections 41A (seeking directions from the CC regarding the charges against Mehta), 41D (to suspend, remove or dismiss a trustee) and 41E (bringing an injunction or staying any alienation of property).
At this juncture the adamant posturing of the four trustees would have deterred even the most hardened intervenors. But public outrage was building from across the globe against the nullification of the Congress. The howls of protest and the threat of other factions hosting the event may have weakened the four trustees’ destructive resolve. The BPP trustees by and large exist in an insular world. The working of Bombay’s apex body is shrouded in secrecy. What little insight The BPP Review may offer as to their working will also cease as the four have reportedly decided to cancel the publishing contract for the monthly.
It was only the entry of Poonawalla, the sponsor of the 10WZC and Godrej, the events sponsor, with businessman Pervez Damania and Herbertsons’ former managing director Sammy Lala working behind the scenes, that another attempt was made to placate the embattled trustees.
Their efforts resulted in the bruised and battered 10WZC being put back on track. The hopefully chastised trustees will meet with Poonawalla and Godrej once a week and if any differences arise, the duo’s decision will be final. A BPP resolution to this effect is binding on the trustees. But more important than that is a moral obligation to serve the community rather than nurse their conceit and hurt pride.
With less than two years left in the trustees’ term, they can institutionalize a disputes redressal forum. If so, then the five years they have served so far will not be a total waste. The police charges, the CC complaints, the renegade priests matter before the Supreme Court, the hurdles to constructing substantial housing at Panthaky Baug and several other projects all remain mired in disputes. With a galaxy of talent willing to assist, the trustees must set up a redressal mechanism. And the international, national and local communities must pressure them to do so.
No doubt it took the likes of the country’s leading industrialists such as Nusli Wadia, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Dr Nadir Godrej to arrive at a workable solution. They intervened on the urging of the local and global community. Forsaking their grueling business schedules they placated hurt egos, subdued ruffled tempers and in the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson, "by slow prudence (made) mild a rugged people and thro’ soft degrees subdue(d) them to the useful and the good” (Ulysses).
In an article in our November 7, 50th anniversary issue ("Rumblers along the road”), former BPP chairman Minoo Shroff referred to the "Acute fundamentalism, doctrinal and social differences (that) have emerged, tearing at the very fabric of our community.” He recommended setting up a council of advisors and dispute redressal fora whose members should be drawn from a legal background and "from among community leaders and social activists.”
But Shroff confided to Parsiana he was uncertain as to how one could go about institutionalizing such bodies. Judging by the avalanche of emails from aghast community leaders across the world, there is no dearth of those who are willing to spare their time, money and effort to keep matters on an even keel. Other communities have such fora so it is not a utopian concept.
Before the recent regrettable disputes became public the BPP trustees had two meetings at Wadia’s Neville House office in Ballard Estate. The purpose of these consultations was to resolve the alleged charges of financial embezzlement leveled against BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta by four of his co-trustees, Arnavaz Mistry, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai. The second meeting reportedly lasted from 2 p.m. till 9 p.m. At this marathon meet six trustees along with Wadia and community activist and proprietor of Parsi Times Kersi Randeria debated on Mehta’s fate, while the hapless chairman sat in a separate room. Wadia reportedly was keen on an informal inquiry being made initially into the allegations of financial impropriety rather than filing a police complaint, but the majority of trustees turned down the offer. It was left to Wadia to inform Mehta that he either face the music and take the community down with him or resign after the holding of the Congress. Mehta reportedly agreed to step down to save the community embarrassment, but when there was a lull while preparing the resignation agreement and letter, Mehta’s friend-turned-foe-turned-savior lawyer and community activist Berjis Desai was alerted about the developments by Mehta’s son Hormuz. Desai rushed over from his office a few buildings away and yanked Mehta out.
When the dispute became public, six ex-trustees of the BPP, Minoo Shroff, Jamsheed Kanga, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Tamboly, Maneck Engineer and Burjor Antia asked to meet with the current seven to work out a via media. Claiming a joint meeting would serve no purpose the four who had brought the charges against Mehta asked to meet them separately from their three dissenting co-trustees. Not much headway was made in that initial meet. Later that evening the four passed the disastrous resolution canceling the 10WZC. They euphemistically referred to it as a postponement. They also moved the Charity Commissioner (CC) under sections 41A (seeking directions from the CC regarding the charges against Mehta), 41D (to suspend, remove or dismiss a trustee) and 41E (bringing an injunction or staying any alienation of property).
At this juncture the adamant posturing of the four trustees would have deterred even the most hardened intervenors. But public outrage was building from across the globe against the nullification of the Congress. The howls of protest and the threat of other factions hosting the event may have weakened the four trustees’ destructive resolve. The BPP trustees by and large exist in an insular world. The working of Bombay’s apex body is shrouded in secrecy. What little insight The BPP Review may offer as to their working will also cease as the four have reportedly decided to cancel the publishing contract for the monthly.
It was only the entry of Poonawalla, the sponsor of the 10WZC and Godrej, the events sponsor, with businessman Pervez Damania and Herbertsons’ former managing director Sammy Lala working behind the scenes, that another attempt was made to placate the embattled trustees.
Their efforts resulted in the bruised and battered 10WZC being put back on track. The hopefully chastised trustees will meet with Poonawalla and Godrej once a week and if any differences arise, the duo’s decision will be final. A BPP resolution to this effect is binding on the trustees. But more important than that is a moral obligation to serve the community rather than nurse their conceit and hurt pride.
With less than two years left in the trustees’ term, they can institutionalize a disputes redressal forum. If so, then the five years they have served so far will not be a total waste. The police charges, the CC complaints, the renegade priests matter before the Supreme Court, the hurdles to constructing substantial housing at Panthaky Baug and several other projects all remain mired in disputes. With a galaxy of talent willing to assist, the trustees must set up a redressal mechanism. And the international, national and local communities must pressure them to do so.
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