“The pride of Pakistan”

"(The) Parsi community is the pride of Pakistan… (The) contribution of Parsi community is laudable.” The ticker tape message on different news telecasts repeatedly quoted the words of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif when covering a reception function hosted by Byram Avari, chairman of the Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund (KPATF), and his wife Goshpi at the family’s Beach Luxury Hotel on August 20, 2015.
"I am a Pakistani. You are also a Pakistani. Maybe you are a better Pakistani than I, the way your community has contributed to the country,” Sharif addressed a congregation, many of whom were Parsis, in Urdu. A video recording of the event, shared with Parsiana, and subsequent clarifications sought from Avari enabled us to learn that "this is the first time that Sharif graced an occasion hosted by any Parsi.” Whilst Avari was happy to see Sharif at "Beach Luxury which is the original ‘home’ of Avaris,” Sharif was eager to sample the "special Karachi prawns.” At a function in July, Sharif accepted Avari’s invitation "then and there by instructing his military secretary to enter this function on his agenda before end of August.”

In the forefront (from left): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Byram Avari and Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan

The distinguished gathering of over 800 persons included the governor of Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, chief minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the federal minister for energy, power and defence Khwaja Asif, the minister of state for investment Miftah Ismail, diplomats, ministers, representatives of the Armed Forces, and dignitaries from the Parsi, Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities. Commending the Parsi community’s contribution to the nation’s economy, business, trade, prosperity, Sharif mentioned in his speech that his association with Avari goes back nearly 25 years and on seeking a confirmation from Avari, the figure was corrected to "30 years.” Sharif appreciated that Avari had remembered him in times of difficulty and in his good days.
Ever since Sharif’s government has come to power in 2013, inflation in Pakistan has been at its lowest in the last 13 years, and they have been attempting to bring about changes with consensus among those in the fields of politics, business, media, he stated. There is need to develop the China economic corridor, believed the Prime Minister. Load shedding in Karachi will be reduced with a new 2200 mw power project that he had inaugurated that morning and further power would also be harnessed from wind and solar panels, he announced on that bright, windy afternoon. The improvement in law and order, as evinced by a drop in extortion target killing and street crimes, would continue with "Karachi Operation,” he was optimistic. "Karachi Ope-ration is not against any political party. It is only against terrorism and to fight the criminals. It will not be abandoned at any cost. People don’t have a right to live if they make living impossible for others. We will defeat the enemy,” he stressed.
He ended his 20-minute address by citing two Punjabi quotations: The first, as explained by him, conveyed that you may destroy a mandir or masjid, but you should never break anyone’s heart because God dwells in the heart. The second couplet reinforced that just as water in a well, if bitter, can never be sweetened, embittered relationships can never be improved. He ended with "Pakistan paindabad, Parsi community zindabad (long live Pakistan and the Parsi community).”
Prior to Sharif’s speech, Avari, speaking mainly in his "college Urdu,” referred to the foundation of the Zoroastrian mazhab (religion), its salient message that "good has to fight against evil,” its arrival on the shores of India, refusal to convert, its key concepts like burning of a lamp that are shared by other faiths, prayers five times a day, similar to the Muslim azan… "We assimilate in the country and integrate in the culture and in the mainstream of the country,” he informed the audience. As he reminded, "99.9% of students in our two Parsi (founded) schools in Karachi (Mama and Bai Virbaiji Soparivala) are Muslims.” If lease for the Bai Gulbai Nusserwanji Mehta Maternity Home in Karachi is renewed, it would likewise help members of all communities, he pointed out. (In a subsequent clarification to Parsiana, Avari mentioned that whilst earlier all Parsi women delivered children at the Mehta Maternity Home, this institution in the Cantonment area has been lying dormant for some decades. Since the property has now been assigned to the KPATF, Avari has promised to take it over once he can arrange the lease from the government/military authorities.)
Assuring on behalf of the community "to stand shoulder to shoulder to make Pakistan an Asian tiger,” Avari added, "Today there is 100% occupancy in our Karachi and Lahore hotels. It shows the confidence of the international community.” Strongly recommending that archaic enactments like blasphemy laws and rules of forced conversion should be amended, he repeated a ditty, "Rules are made for fools/and children of schools/and donkeys and mules.” He further reinforced that in the interests of humanity and to adjust to life we should be willing to change rules.
"P stands for Pakistan and P for Parsis. There is a divine arrangement,” remarked Avari before concluding with a quotation by Confucius, "‘If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations. When there is order in the nations, there will be peace in the world.’ We look forward to that.”
Besides Byram and Goshpi, the other Parsis on the dais were KPATF trustees, Rusi Sethna, Soli Parakh, Ardeshir Marker, Khursheed Kotwal, honorary secretary Homi Khambatta and honorary treasurer Pouruchisty Sidhwa.
With the Prime Minister due to grace the function at 3 p.m., the invite for the reception an hour earlier had clearly specified the security arrangements: "Cars will not be allowed in the Hotel premises. Guests will have to walk into the Hotel. There are valet arrangements. Punctuality requested as doors will close at 3 p.m. Kindly bring the envelope and card with the security clearance along with a photo identity or National Identity Card for admission. Mobile phones, iPads, other electronic devices, cameras, handbags and purses are not allowed.”
The security arrangements in 2015 were quite different from the 1950s when Byram’s father Dinshaw played host to the then President of Pakistan Gen Iskander Mirza at the Beach Luxury when he came to meet the Parsi community. At his parents’ silver wedding anniversary function the then President of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan had joined them for a sit-down dinner at the Beach Luxury, recalls Byram. Having maintained contacts with all politicians and bureaucrats over the decades, Avari mentioned, "I have known the various heads of state of Pakistan on a first-name basis whether they are presidents or prime ministers.”
The afternoon function hosted by Byram started with the singing of the Pakistani national anthem after which two Zoroastrian priests, Ervads Kaikhushrow Dastur and Burjise Bhada recited a benediction in Avestan. The priests briefly explained that the Parsi community is "known for its sweet tongue and sweet language. We never harm anyone physically and mentally…We are proud of our nation, national flag and national anthem… We will be faithful to the nation… obey all rules and regulations of day-to-day life… We believe in peace and love…”
A musical interlude by Avari’s grandson Byram (son of Dinshaw and Dinaz) on the keyboard, songs by Rashna Gazder’s students and a brief introduction to the Karachi community through a mother-son dialog in Urdu enacted by Kaizer Irani and her son Zermesh helped to acquaint the audience with the community’s many contributions and talents: Besides the two Parsi schools, the Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (NED) College of Engineering, the Lady Dufferin Hospital and the Spencer Eye Hospital are the other community founded institutions in Karachi. In the field of sports, Byram and Goshpi won gold medals for Pakistan in yachting at the Asian Games, Rusi Dinshaw was on the national cricket team and Pervin Minwalla was a national table tennis champion. Individuals who have been recognized with national honors are Mehramai Marker, Jamsheed Marker, Bapsi Sidhwa, Byram Avari and Deena Mistri. Summing up the community credo, the mother explained: "We respect the land in which we live and shirini aur mithaas phailaté hai (we spread sweetness).”