Tarnished image
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) is not referred to as the apex body for nothing; the downslide started there with the infighting and bickering which spilled out literally onto the streets! The community became a laughing stock.
And then came the bombshell from the immensely respected business house of Tata. Whereas the BPP blast was like a local earthquake mainly affecting the community beneficiaries, the Ratan Tata/Cyrus Mistry episode was a devastating tsunami that has impacted the entire nation and the business world. It has shaken the confidence of most investors in a business house which had over the years built a magnificent image for itself.
Perhaps time will tell what the real reasons for the rumblings in Bombay House are, but their effect may be long lasting. Could this entire episode involving fine gentlemen not have been handled with more finesse? Ultimately and unfortunately the two towering personalities involved will also unwittingly have their images dented. This makes me wonder if there has ever been a victor in any war!
PHIROZE AMROLIWALLA
phirozeamroliwalla@gmail.com
Power struggles in the Bombay Parsi Punchayet are certainly an issue that the community has a right to criticize and participate in changing.But the power struggles in an incorporated private company do not justify a community upheaval. Nor should the community take it as an insult, or even start silly demands on who should lead the company etc. I checked the list of the Tata Sons Board on Internet today. It is comprised of 3 Parsis: Rattan Tata, Cyrus Mistry and Farida Khambatha, who was appointed to fulfill the government mandated requirement to include women on board; Of the remainder there are 8 Hindus, 1 Muslim and 1 British/German (faith community not listed). There are many pressing community issues for the Parsis that need our attention and participation,. Let us leave the businessmen to run their own businesses. Their reputations as individuals and businessmen is theirs to uphold or ruin, and should have nothing to do with the Parsi community at large. Let us move on!