Readers' Forum
“The end of Camelot”
"The end of Camelot”
After perusing Jamsheed Kanga’s article "The end of Camelot” (Parsiana, December 7, 2013) we recollected a certain observation voiced with nostalgia by an erstwhile senior executive Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) staff member while waiting outside the Charity Commissioner’s (CC) office way back in the late 1990s. This is what he had to say: "Time was then when even if you put your ears to the board room entrance, you would not hear a word of what was being discussed behind closed doors by the gentlemen inside. But now the shouting and yelling within, laced with unheard of choicest expletives can be heard across the corridor.”
These words give credence to the growing whispers gaining ground among community brethren. "What a drastic change has come about in the manner of functioning of the trustees” is an understatement by Kanga.
The downslide of the BPP was a certainty with the changing of the election process from a legitimate donor voting to the politically motivated/manipulative, self-serving Universal Adult Franchise (UAF). The very first elections post UAF which culminated in ignominious defeat of personages having achieved eminence in their professions, and unbelievable victory of men of straw with disturbing agendas where BPP work was not their priority, proved this beyond doubt.
The BPP has become less of an eminent philanthropic institution as envisaged by its benefactors and more of a political chessboard for one-upmanship among sitting trustees who spend astronomical sums to get elected to enhance their reputation or fame.
MICKIE SORABJEE
nashmick@hotmail.com
After perusing Jamsheed Kanga’s article "The end of Camelot” (Parsiana, December 7, 2013) we recollected a certain observation voiced with nostalgia by an erstwhile senior executive Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) staff member while waiting outside the Charity Commissioner’s (CC) office way back in the late 1990s. This is what he had to say: "Time was then when even if you put your ears to the board room entrance, you would not hear a word of what was being discussed behind closed doors by the gentlemen inside. But now the shouting and yelling within, laced with unheard of choicest expletives can be heard across the corridor.”
These words give credence to the growing whispers gaining ground among community brethren. "What a drastic change has come about in the manner of functioning of the trustees” is an understatement by Kanga.
The downslide of the BPP was a certainty with the changing of the election process from a legitimate donor voting to the politically motivated/manipulative, self-serving Universal Adult Franchise (UAF). The very first elections post UAF which culminated in ignominious defeat of personages having achieved eminence in their professions, and unbelievable victory of men of straw with disturbing agendas where BPP work was not their priority, proved this beyond doubt.
The BPP has become less of an eminent philanthropic institution as envisaged by its benefactors and more of a political chessboard for one-upmanship among sitting trustees who spend astronomical sums to get elected to enhance their reputation or fame.
MICKIE SORABJEE
nashmick@hotmail.com
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