Editorial Viewpoint
The WAPIZ wave
After almost a 10-year tussle, the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) has now captured the crucial seats on the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI). The traditionalist body flexed their muscle at the West Zone B meeting in Bardoli on August 31, 2014 when they managed to get their candidate nominated for the Zone’s vice presidency. Two weeks later at the FPZAI annual general meeting in Bombay on September 13 they swept most of the offices, barring the East Zone vice presidency, of which no announcement was made as to the candidate or even if a nomination had been received, and of the South Zone’s.
Some conventions were disregarded. Thus while the FPZAI refused to condone a two-day delay in the nomination filed by the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman (IZA) for the West Zone A vice presidency, they condoned the Madras anjuman’s delay stating the candidature was unopposed.
The FPZAI circular sent under the signature of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Khojeste Mistree, who is the all-India body’s joint honorary secretary, announcing the formalities to be followed by anjumans authorizing delegates to attend the meet, was not adhered to by the BPP trustees themselves, as was pointed out by the IZA representative.
The FPZAI decided to send a resolution to the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) "requesting” them not to liberalize their rules at their September 21, 2014 annual general meeting. The FPZAI rules and regulations state member anjumans "shall be free to manage their own affairs” though of course the FPZAI can offer "from time to time recommendations and suggestions.” FPZAI president and BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta rightly noted that Delhi has not been attending the last few FPZAI meets but has been nominating instead a former resident now living in Bombay and that the DPA probably didn’t care what the FPZAI thought. (Delhi had also refused to host an FPZAI meet.) He advised sending the resolution to DPA president Yezad Kapadia instead of the honorary secretary Adil Nargolwala whom he termed "too much of a rebel.”
But when the Satara representative Jamsheed Kanga proposed another resolution calling on the BPP trustees to settle their internal differences and function as akabars, the effort was initially termed an interference in the affairs of an anjuman! When the Delhi precedent was cited, Kanga’s proposal was still turned down (one WAPIZ loyalist kept chanting "Withdraw the case,” a reference to the ban on two priests by the BPP which was successfully challenged by Kanga and Homi Khusrokhan in the Bombay High Court. He was unaware that it is the BPP which has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, so it was for the apex Bombay trust to take back the suit, not Kanga. The delegates believed the Bombay trustees’ quarrel was of lesser consequence than non-Parsi spouses being permitted to have their bodies interred in the DPA aramgah. Dadi Mistry of Delhi who serves as the Zoroastrian representative on the National Minorities Commission and was the former president of the DPA observed the aramgah land was given by the government and not purchased by the Anjuman.
Another favorite target of WAPIZ is Sorab Katpitia of Surat who looks after the defunct anjumans portfolio. Perceived as being in Mehta’s camp, the WAPIZ delegates pilloried him both at the Bardoli meet and in Bombay. Mistry, Mehta, the North Zone vice president Tehmton Anklesaria and newly appointed FPZAI joint honorary secretary Farrokh Rustomji spoke in his defense, but to little avail. Anklesaria and Rustomji’s independent stance on Katpitia will not go down well with the WAPIZ high command. Any form of dissent or intellectual thought is viewed with suspicion and/or disdain. The duo’s continuation in office will however depend on their toeing the WAPIZ line and not stealing any of the limelight from the other leaders.
But aside from party loyalties, what irks many of the delegates who spend hours if not days traveling to the meets and incurring expenses, is that they are "permitted” to speak for only three minutes on matters pertaining to their anjuman. They resent the fact that guest speakers are invited and given time to speak on subjects that they often feel are of little relevance to the anjumans, while representatives are allotted a minimum time and that too on the last day’s closing session. They are further repeatedly instructed to keep their presentations brief rather than being told to emphasize the problems they face and their achievements. One delegate from Vasda who was very vocal in Bardoli and Bombay, expressed his unwillingness to speak on the anjuman, and in reply to a question on the anjuman’s population said he could not give any figure! This used to be the general tenor of many of the WAPIZ legion who attended in large numbers to shout down or intimidate any opposition. On the whole the WAPIZ brigade at this meet was restrained. Having gained power, now they probably seek legitimacy and respectability.
Ironically the attack by WAPIZ loyalists on the defunct anjumans custodial draft agreement must have resulted in some embarrassment to the WAPIZ high command. The two individuals who drew up the document are noted solicitor and former BPP trustee Burjor Antia, who is supporting the BPP in regard to the priests ban case, and Rustomji. While WAPIZ has no compunction denigrating Katpitia, Antia and Rustomji are viewed sympathetically.
When Mehta’s term as a BPP trustee expires in July 2015, the major opposition to the Mistree-Desai (both WAPIZ founder trustees) duo will evaporate. Then what? The FPZAI today has been reduced to a rump. Delhi, Jamshedpur and Secunderabad-Hyderabad (they have temporarily suspended their membership) do not attend. Calcutta came after several years. At an earlier meet they did not even get to speak a word. Madras showed no interest in hosting a meet. The Poona Panchayat was absent and there is talk of dissension in their ranks. Bangalore ceased to be a member 35 years ago.
The FPZAI meet is to be held every six months. This gathering took place after 20 months. The convention is one meet is held in Bombay and the next elsewhere. But with no one willing to host the rambunctious body, the next gathering also has been scheduled for Bombay. When that meet will be held is a question. WAPIZ has achieved its long sought objective of controlling the FPZAI. But it may not have an idea of what to do next. The FPZAI, like the BPP, may end up rudderless.
Some conventions were disregarded. Thus while the FPZAI refused to condone a two-day delay in the nomination filed by the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman (IZA) for the West Zone A vice presidency, they condoned the Madras anjuman’s delay stating the candidature was unopposed.
The FPZAI circular sent under the signature of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Khojeste Mistree, who is the all-India body’s joint honorary secretary, announcing the formalities to be followed by anjumans authorizing delegates to attend the meet, was not adhered to by the BPP trustees themselves, as was pointed out by the IZA representative.
The FPZAI decided to send a resolution to the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) "requesting” them not to liberalize their rules at their September 21, 2014 annual general meeting. The FPZAI rules and regulations state member anjumans "shall be free to manage their own affairs” though of course the FPZAI can offer "from time to time recommendations and suggestions.” FPZAI president and BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta rightly noted that Delhi has not been attending the last few FPZAI meets but has been nominating instead a former resident now living in Bombay and that the DPA probably didn’t care what the FPZAI thought. (Delhi had also refused to host an FPZAI meet.) He advised sending the resolution to DPA president Yezad Kapadia instead of the honorary secretary Adil Nargolwala whom he termed "too much of a rebel.”
But when the Satara representative Jamsheed Kanga proposed another resolution calling on the BPP trustees to settle their internal differences and function as akabars, the effort was initially termed an interference in the affairs of an anjuman! When the Delhi precedent was cited, Kanga’s proposal was still turned down (one WAPIZ loyalist kept chanting "Withdraw the case,” a reference to the ban on two priests by the BPP which was successfully challenged by Kanga and Homi Khusrokhan in the Bombay High Court. He was unaware that it is the BPP which has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, so it was for the apex Bombay trust to take back the suit, not Kanga. The delegates believed the Bombay trustees’ quarrel was of lesser consequence than non-Parsi spouses being permitted to have their bodies interred in the DPA aramgah. Dadi Mistry of Delhi who serves as the Zoroastrian representative on the National Minorities Commission and was the former president of the DPA observed the aramgah land was given by the government and not purchased by the Anjuman.
Another favorite target of WAPIZ is Sorab Katpitia of Surat who looks after the defunct anjumans portfolio. Perceived as being in Mehta’s camp, the WAPIZ delegates pilloried him both at the Bardoli meet and in Bombay. Mistry, Mehta, the North Zone vice president Tehmton Anklesaria and newly appointed FPZAI joint honorary secretary Farrokh Rustomji spoke in his defense, but to little avail. Anklesaria and Rustomji’s independent stance on Katpitia will not go down well with the WAPIZ high command. Any form of dissent or intellectual thought is viewed with suspicion and/or disdain. The duo’s continuation in office will however depend on their toeing the WAPIZ line and not stealing any of the limelight from the other leaders.
But aside from party loyalties, what irks many of the delegates who spend hours if not days traveling to the meets and incurring expenses, is that they are "permitted” to speak for only three minutes on matters pertaining to their anjuman. They resent the fact that guest speakers are invited and given time to speak on subjects that they often feel are of little relevance to the anjumans, while representatives are allotted a minimum time and that too on the last day’s closing session. They are further repeatedly instructed to keep their presentations brief rather than being told to emphasize the problems they face and their achievements. One delegate from Vasda who was very vocal in Bardoli and Bombay, expressed his unwillingness to speak on the anjuman, and in reply to a question on the anjuman’s population said he could not give any figure! This used to be the general tenor of many of the WAPIZ legion who attended in large numbers to shout down or intimidate any opposition. On the whole the WAPIZ brigade at this meet was restrained. Having gained power, now they probably seek legitimacy and respectability.
Ironically the attack by WAPIZ loyalists on the defunct anjumans custodial draft agreement must have resulted in some embarrassment to the WAPIZ high command. The two individuals who drew up the document are noted solicitor and former BPP trustee Burjor Antia, who is supporting the BPP in regard to the priests ban case, and Rustomji. While WAPIZ has no compunction denigrating Katpitia, Antia and Rustomji are viewed sympathetically.
When Mehta’s term as a BPP trustee expires in July 2015, the major opposition to the Mistree-Desai (both WAPIZ founder trustees) duo will evaporate. Then what? The FPZAI today has been reduced to a rump. Delhi, Jamshedpur and Secunderabad-Hyderabad (they have temporarily suspended their membership) do not attend. Calcutta came after several years. At an earlier meet they did not even get to speak a word. Madras showed no interest in hosting a meet. The Poona Panchayat was absent and there is talk of dissension in their ranks. Bangalore ceased to be a member 35 years ago.
The FPZAI meet is to be held every six months. This gathering took place after 20 months. The convention is one meet is held in Bombay and the next elsewhere. But with no one willing to host the rambunctious body, the next gathering also has been scheduled for Bombay. When that meet will be held is a question. WAPIZ has achieved its long sought objective of controlling the FPZAI. But it may not have an idea of what to do next. The FPZAI, like the BPP, may end up rudderless.
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