“The new newscasters”
If the trustees we elected seven years ago can go to such a degrading extent, what will happen in September? The same lot is, I am told, hoping for re-election, and no code of conduct will change them because they think they do no wrong and are the saviors of the community. They will continue the good work they feel they are obliging us with! In simple terms, it’s their way or no way! We will be in for more court and police cases, with money from the BPP’s coffers used for the purpose.
Ahura Mazda’s intervention will be necessary to work a miracle and get honest, caring men and women voted to office, instead of the orthodox jokers who have made a laughing stock of our community globally.
It was with pleasure and a sense of pride that one read the story of Kaizad Hansotia’s cigars ("A puff of pride,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, May 21, 2015). Most of us were not even aware that an Indian Parsi was the owner of Gurkha Cigars. Always having heard of Cuban cigars as being the best, this was an eye-opener. The present generation of Parsi entrepreneurs are flourishing and thanks to Parsiana we come to know about individuals making a mark in the global business world. What is refreshing and touching is that they are all true Zoroastrians who donate huge funds for good causes in their homeland, India.
Like Hansotia, the Hong Kong based Shroffs too have taken up the massive project of building a super specialty hospital in the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital grounds in Bombay. So many other names come to mind of those who practice such philanthropy.
Unfortunately in India there are no names in the young generation to talk about; we still bask in the glory of the Tatas, Godrejs, Wadias! If only the orthodox realize that they are doing so much harm to the community by their rigid outdated diktats we would prosper like our counterparts who have settled in the West. RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda
vadhakim@yahoo.com
I agree with Ms. Hakim that the behavior of certain trustees of the Parsi Panchayat leave little to be desired. The philanthropy of the likes of Hansotias and Shroffs bring glory to and enhance our community. However, it is out of context to blame the "orthodox" and "their rigid outdated diktats" from preventing the Parsis from prospering in India. Making a scapegoat of the "orthodox" in order to polarize the community further is inappropriate! The fault is not with the “orthodox” or “liberal’ people in the community. It is not about living in India or the diaspora. The fault is with individuals themselves who have settled for mediocrity and the dramatic shift in the values of the community. Zaver Shroff-Patel,DVM California, USA sapatel1@sbcglobal.net