How to reform the BPP
If you refuse to reform, be prepared for a revolution. This is what happened in 1948-49. The BPP trustees of those days were rich, reputed, highly placed men and women of the community who failed to stand up in a dignified manner against the nonviolent satyagrah of the poor Parsi students at the Gamadia Boys’ Hostel. They were misguided, rushed to the court and had to face disgrace and disdain from the community and even the Press.
Even at present, we hear of trustees running to the police or to the courts against each other or against bona fide beneficiaries. They level serious charges and accusations against each other and fail in their duties. They are divided and fight disgracefully. The root cause is the typical Parsi ego. Since the introduction of adult franchise the institution has been infected with political practices and methods. The groups, from landlords to builders, are pushing themselves forward, exposing their motives explicitly for even laymen to understand. That is the reason for quarrels among them.
The BPP needed reform in its constitution. We have to provide a machinery to control the rights and powers of the trustees. We have to provide a special tribunal to deal with and adjudicate disputes among the trustees and of the trustees with beneficiaries.
It is but natural that all right-minded people, particularly the Press, should wish to draw the attention of the community and give a lead to such reforms.
The Samast Anjuman in Bombay hardly meets except for the election of trustees. The community as a whole is the beneficiary and not only some poor and downtrodden individuals who are generally obligated to the trustees and the staff. The funds, the properties, the baugs, the colonies all belong to the community. The BPP is the legal body, the trust governed by the Bombay Public Trusts Act to hold all trust properties and the trustees are only the managers. The sooner they realize this, the better. They waste time, energy and money over disputes and disagreements. The latest fights are over transfer of tenancy of business premises, debris and termites at Doongerwadi and the Wadias demanding the return of baugs given in and for charity. What is behind all these? There is no machinery to bring the managers to book.
The Samast Anjuman should meet statutorily and discuss the work of the trustees, their validity to continue, or move a resolution to recall and remove the trustees. Only such a remedy can make the trustees work responsibly, jointly and wisely.
RUSI PARDIWALA