A dark shadow

Parsiana sent Desai a text message querying, "Is it correct you have turned down a proposal to move the CC to rescind the status quo in return for Munchi (Muncherji) withdrawing his resignation?" Desai replied, "There is no proposal from Munchi to withdraw his resignation."

When informed of Desai’s response, Cama retorted, "A proposal, if any, should come from them, not from me. Had I a proposal, I would not have resigned." Cama was resolute that even if the four had accepted the proposal he would have still stepped down.

In the Jam-e-Jamshed of June 14, Desai alleged Cama "resigned on account of ill health and not reasons given by him." Cama says if ill health were the issue, he would have sought a leave of absence. Cama has been attending his Bombay Samachar office, though not the BPP, over the past few weeks.

Cama mentioned to Parsiana that the panthaky at the BPP run Godavara Agiary in the Fort area complained about a precarious beam that needed to be replaced. Instead of sanctioning the amount for the repairs, the trustees decided to give money to some agiary in Gujarat to curry favor at the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) meets. Cama also mentioned building No. 6 at Rustom Baug was in urgent need of repairs but no decisions were being taken to repair it.

The trustees opposing Mehta and others reportedly took a delegation to the MRA (Mathrusri Ramabai Ambedkar) Police Station on June 13 alleging Rs 20 lakhs found in the BPP cupboards did not belong to the BPP. They allege the money is from the Dady House tenancy transfer. They were supposed to meet the concerned officials again on June 15. On prior investigation, the police had declared the money belonged to the BPP.

The internecine war amongst the trustees not only claimed its second victim (BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala resigned in 2011 after battling the other six trustees for almost three years), but has left around 120 flats vacant that cannot be allotted or given possession. The status quo order of the CC initiated by the trustees has cut off the major source of the BPP’s income which is derived from transfer of tenancies.

The Parsi Times headlined the story of Cama’s resignation, "The last hope leaves," referring to his qualities of mind and heart that made him a formidable presence on the board of the apex Bombay trust. There is no doubt that intellectually Cama towered over his colleagues, and was also well versed with legal and financial matters. He heads The Bombay Samachar, Asia’s oldest newspaper, The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, the Garib Zarthostiona Rehethan Fund which manages several properties including Murzban Colony at Lal Chimney, and is associated with numerous other institutions.

"For some time now I have realized that sitting through endless, meandering Tuesday meetings was achieving virtually nothing but the opportunity to view some trustees brazenly inciting others to react to their unparliamentary barbs and accusations. Watching some of the BPP trustees revert to what might be termed childish behavior, was unpleasant and pointless," he noted in his resignation letter dated June 12, 2015 addressed to his co-trustees.

"The BPP was taking up an inordinate amount of time; time that I was more than willing to devote to this hallowed organization if there were some positive results to be had. The net result was that I have been unable to devote my time to other great institutions with which I am associated and where my fellow trustees and I can, and do, make a difference. I shall cherish the moments I have spent in opposing the pointless and self-serving schemes foisted upon the BPP and which thankfully were never allowed to go beyond the tentative stage…

"The functioning of the BPP is beyond repair. Leadership is absent and there is no direction or value system in place which would allow this great institution to move forward. It would be in the fitness of things if the CC suo moto immediately appoints an administrator to oversee the functioning of the BPP, after superseding the present trustees."

The CC’s office being so burdened with work is unlikely to pay heed, especially since the BPP is due to hold elections in the next three months. Six seats will be up for contest and should BPP trustee Armaity Tirandaz also submit her resignation, seven places will be in the offing. If she stays on, her seven-year term will end before mid-2016. Her choreographer daughter-in-law, Pearl, may be a likely candidate at that time or earlier. Other likely candidates are former Central Bank of India chairperson and managing director Homai Daruwala who according to the grapevine is willing to contest; builder Zarir Bhathena is in the process of preparing his manifesto; Mehta’s son, Viraf has all but formally declared his candidature; Desai has announced he is contesting while co-trustees Arnavaz and Mistree have still to make their intentions known, though it is expected Arnavaz will contest.

Should all of the existing trustees lose their seats and Tirandaz also steps down, an entirely new group of trustees would take over. In the last board Dinshaw lent continuity, having served for 14 years prior (his three terms finish this October. Earlier Dinshaw’s co-trustees were insistent he step down in June on completing 21 years though the scheme stipulates 21 years or three terms. The trustees have reportedly filed consent terms agreeing to Mehta completing his third term). Without continuity the new board will be at a disadvantage. One has observed at the FPZAI meetings many new members ignorant of past developments suggest taking up projects already completed, or aborted, for valid reasons. A trustee with past knowledge of a body’s working is invaluable. But if any trustee returns with a spillover of the current board’s outlook and approach, matters will continue to flounder.

The BPP may be just a Bombay trust, but it casts a long, dark shadow. The Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore has decided to withdraw its offer to host the 11^th World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in 2017. The response from members could not muster the requisite two thirds majority required to proceed with the hosting. The BPP similarly in late 2013 wanted to cancel/postpone the 10^th WZC scheduled to be held that December in Bombay. No doubt the antics of the BPP must have had an effect on the Singapore outcome.