Readers' Forum
10WZC back on track
The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (10WZC) to be held in Bombay from December 27 to 30, 2013 will possibly be the most controversial one in the history of the community.
Coming on the heels of serious allegations made by four Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees (Yazdi Desai, Khojeste Mistree, Jimmy Mistry and Arnavaz Mistry) and the filing of a complaint before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), even the holding of the 10WZC itself became a contentious issue. The four trustees asked the chairman Dinshaw Mehta to step down so that the 10WZC could go on as scheduled.
To any and all who are willing to listen to him, Mehta says, "I am not important; the interest of the institution is paramount for me.” (Although this line is beginning to sound a little worn around the edges now because every time Mehta seems to land himself in trouble he always says he fears that the BPP will be in trouble, an administrator will be appointed and our properties will come under threat, etc… as he did when four trustees of the former board resigned.)
Despite these high sounding statements, when asked to step down in the interest of the trust and the 10WZC, the ever practical Mehta refused, claiming rightly (at least technically) that he was innocent till proven guilty.
After many hours of deliberations the four trustees (as per an email sent out by them in the early hours of November 29, 2013) decided that even if Mehta was unwilling to step down as a BPP trustee as they had initially demanded, they would reconsider their decision if Mehta recused himself from the planning of the Congress and the Congress itself.
Thanks to the advice and involvement of some senior and respected members of the community both sides have apparently decided to meet somewhere in the middle and now the Congress is back on track.
Coming on the heels of serious allegations made by four Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees (Yazdi Desai, Khojeste Mistree, Jimmy Mistry and Arnavaz Mistry) and the filing of a complaint before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), even the holding of the 10WZC itself became a contentious issue. The four trustees asked the chairman Dinshaw Mehta to step down so that the 10WZC could go on as scheduled.
To any and all who are willing to listen to him, Mehta says, "I am not important; the interest of the institution is paramount for me.” (Although this line is beginning to sound a little worn around the edges now because every time Mehta seems to land himself in trouble he always says he fears that the BPP will be in trouble, an administrator will be appointed and our properties will come under threat, etc… as he did when four trustees of the former board resigned.)
Despite these high sounding statements, when asked to step down in the interest of the trust and the 10WZC, the ever practical Mehta refused, claiming rightly (at least technically) that he was innocent till proven guilty.
After many hours of deliberations the four trustees (as per an email sent out by them in the early hours of November 29, 2013) decided that even if Mehta was unwilling to step down as a BPP trustee as they had initially demanded, they would reconsider their decision if Mehta recused himself from the planning of the Congress and the Congress itself.
Thanks to the advice and involvement of some senior and respected members of the community both sides have apparently decided to meet somewhere in the middle and now the Congress is back on track.
DARA ACIDWALLA
dara.acidwalla2@gmail.com
dara.acidwalla2@gmail.com
I heard the news with great disbelief that the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (10WZC) in Bombay had been cancelled. I could not imagine what the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) were thinking or whether they had collectively lost their minds?
A large number of Zarthushtis all over the world would have been inconvenienced even financially, as they had made plans to make a trip to India and attend the 10WZC. I doubt whether the speakers who are invited will ever come to any event like this sponsored by the BPP.
The BPP has lost credibility and become the laughing stock of all Zarathushtis. It is inconceivable that after having taken on a project like this they would walk away from it at the last moment and leave the community hanging. This action confirms in many minds that the BPP trustees do not have the ability or the desire to care for and nurture the community and are only interested in their personal aggrandizement.
Organizing a WZC is a major effort but less endowed associations such as Tehran, Houston/Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America and Dubai have successfully run these events. After this experience, Bombay can no longer be the venue of a WZC unless there is a major change in the BPP and its mode of operation.
A large number of Zarthushtis all over the world would have been inconvenienced even financially, as they had made plans to make a trip to India and attend the 10WZC. I doubt whether the speakers who are invited will ever come to any event like this sponsored by the BPP.
The BPP has lost credibility and become the laughing stock of all Zarathushtis. It is inconceivable that after having taken on a project like this they would walk away from it at the last moment and leave the community hanging. This action confirms in many minds that the BPP trustees do not have the ability or the desire to care for and nurture the community and are only interested in their personal aggrandizement.
Organizing a WZC is a major effort but less endowed associations such as Tehran, Houston/Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America and Dubai have successfully run these events. After this experience, Bombay can no longer be the venue of a WZC unless there is a major change in the BPP and its mode of operation.
It is sad that a group of trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) decided to take action against the chairman of the trust. It is even sadder that the chairman, Dinshaw Mehta has allegedly acted beyond the limits of his power and that there is a charge of financial mismanagement.
One may recall that before this board of trustees was elected, the former trustees resigned en masse objecting to the manner in which Mehta operated. I am of the firm opinion that the previous team of trustees knew what they were doing and resigned for valid reasons. They may be labeled as "Sethjis” but they were an honest and dedicated lot and Mehta was the sore thumb whose activities disturbed the equilibrium.
The community has exhibited a degree of naivety insofar as elections are concerned. One is reminded of the speech of Brutus, the response of the crowd, the speech of Mark Antony and the renewed reactions of the mob in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. We have failed to recognize the personal hidden agendas of most of the persons who sought election, their modus operandi and are now paying for our lack of insight. The only person who got elected and proved his true intentions was Noshir Dadrawala who, by resigning, announced loud and clear that he was not going to toe the line of the others who are constantly fighting and creating situations where the fair name of the community is at stake.
Ideally, the community should dismiss this entire board of trustees while, at the same time, withdrawing all pending court cases, reinstating the priests (so-called renegade priests) and abandoning the vulture aviary project. There are numerous persons who will come forward without any personal agenda to steer the BPP back on course. Perhaps the old system of trustees without universal adult franchise is a better alternative and the old guard could be requested to help again. We are an educated and respected community and getting carried away by the evil machinations of the elected few shows a lack of concern for the good name earned by us over the years through our good thoughts, words and deeds.
We must play an active role in bringing about change so that we integrate with the modern world and continue to be in step with the environs. We must look at our traditions and rituals in the light of what is possible and what must be and change ourselves accordingly with trust and knowledge that Zarathustra will not disapprove.
One may recall that before this board of trustees was elected, the former trustees resigned en masse objecting to the manner in which Mehta operated. I am of the firm opinion that the previous team of trustees knew what they were doing and resigned for valid reasons. They may be labeled as "Sethjis” but they were an honest and dedicated lot and Mehta was the sore thumb whose activities disturbed the equilibrium.
The community has exhibited a degree of naivety insofar as elections are concerned. One is reminded of the speech of Brutus, the response of the crowd, the speech of Mark Antony and the renewed reactions of the mob in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. We have failed to recognize the personal hidden agendas of most of the persons who sought election, their modus operandi and are now paying for our lack of insight. The only person who got elected and proved his true intentions was Noshir Dadrawala who, by resigning, announced loud and clear that he was not going to toe the line of the others who are constantly fighting and creating situations where the fair name of the community is at stake.
Ideally, the community should dismiss this entire board of trustees while, at the same time, withdrawing all pending court cases, reinstating the priests (so-called renegade priests) and abandoning the vulture aviary project. There are numerous persons who will come forward without any personal agenda to steer the BPP back on course. Perhaps the old system of trustees without universal adult franchise is a better alternative and the old guard could be requested to help again. We are an educated and respected community and getting carried away by the evil machinations of the elected few shows a lack of concern for the good name earned by us over the years through our good thoughts, words and deeds.
We must play an active role in bringing about change so that we integrate with the modern world and continue to be in step with the environs. We must look at our traditions and rituals in the light of what is possible and what must be and change ourselves accordingly with trust and knowledge that Zarathustra will not disapprove.
JAMSHED IRANI
iranijams@yahoo.in
iranijams@yahoo.in
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