Poaching panthakies

The Gandevi Parsi Anjuman Charity Trust Fund has taken objection to the luring away of their mobed Ervad Kurush Sidhwa by the Bilimora Parsi Zarthoshti Anjuman. A letter dated August 5, 2016 written by the Gandevi Anjuman to the Bilimora Anjuman recorded that Sidhwa had served the Seth Bhikhaji Chenoy Daremeher in Gandevi for 23 years. Reportedly, Sidhwa placed his resignation before the Gandevi trustees on July 24, and informed them that he intended to move to Bilimora pursuant to which Gandevi recorded their "protest in strong words (sakhat shabdo ma virodh nodhaviye chhiyé).”

Seth Bhikhaji Chenoy Daremeher in Gandevi

Sidhwa’s move came as a result of Ervad Percy Panthaky of the Bilimora agiary shifting to Nagpur’s Bai Hirabai Mulla Daremeher. Marazban Baria, managing trustee of the Bilimora Anjuman had voiced his resentment of the Nagpur anjuman during the West Zone B meet of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) held at Valsad on July 24 (see "Maintain the place of worship,” Parsiana, August 21, 2016). The Gandevi representatives at that meeting had supported the stand of the Bilimora Anjuman that the Nagpur anjuman had not obtained an NOC (no objection certificate) from the trustees at Bilimora. "Bè modha ni vaato sha maaté (Why this two-faced talk)?” queries the letter. The Gandevi trustees rued that their 182-year-old place of worship would need to close down ("taala marvanu kaam karé chhè”).
Navil Vasania, manager in the Gandevi Trust, to whom Parsiana spoke on October 17, 2016 however stated that they now have a panthaky, Ervad Adil Toti, who moved there after resigning previously from Ajmer, on September 15, 2016. Sidhwa commuted between Bilimora and Gandevi to perform the boi ceremonies until Toti moved in.