Desai’s dual deliveries
Yazdi Desai (left) and Dinshaw Tamboly
What is wrong if he is progressive? Is progress not something we should strive for? We practice religion to progress and become better human beings. Eventually progress is the very purpose of our lives! He has not created fatwas (dictates) in the name of religion. He has not wasted community wealth to punish the innocents. Tamboly may be called anti-orthodox if orthodoxy means adhering to irrelevant, outdated customs stubbornly. But we cannot call him anti-religious. If religion means doing good to others, helping the poor and the oppressed, being tolerant towards all, selflessly toiling for the less privileged, serving with love and compassion, then there is no more religious person in the community than Tamboly. Even if he is not appointed, he will carry on with his good work, but the community will lose the opportunity to get the benefit of his wisdom and guidance.
There are some who want Firoze Andhyarujina to be appointed. No doubt he is a well-known personality in his professional field, but except for a few sermons we are not aware of his rendering meaningful service to the community. If he really wants to serve the community, he should distance himself from this unfortunate controversial issue, support Tamboly and offer his advice on legal issues. Instead of creating controversies, we should work in unison for the common good of the community. As a trustee of the BPP and president of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ), Desai has taken decisions that are controversial, which have caused immense damage, draining valuable trust money and spoiling the reputation of the community. A majority of the community resents Desai’s decision to withdraw support to a worthy candidate. If the community has to vote, I presume 90% of the votes will go in Tamboly’s favor.
piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com
Yes, I am talking about the recent Yazdi Desai vs Dinshaw Tamboly controversy. As and when Parsis cease to exist, if not sooner than in the very near later, the blame will be totally on these orthodox who have the least care if the community goes to the dogs! After endorsing Tamboly, Desai later drops him like a hot potato because "community members find Tamboly too reformist.” Even though Vada Dastur Khurshed Dastoor supports his candidacy, when the other high priests don’t rein in, Desai backs off, showing utterly un-statesman like behavior!
Tamboly’s track record speaks for itself. He has done and is doing a lot for the community, compared to the self-bugle-blowing-orthodox who are stuck on their age old record of "parampara thi chaléch (traditions have been continuing) so….” No change! One main reason for this policy of no change is because most of them are in their dotage, preferring to live and die by their own cherished unreasoning. Disappearance is any day better than change, is their thinking! But folks like me are going to bombard Readers’ Forum and let our voice be heard!
The National Commission for Minorities does not deal with religious problems or matters, so why should anyone give such an undertaking in writing? Perhaps, one more reason for the court-loving Parsi to waste some more donors’ money by taking those who go against them, to court on such faltu (inconsequential) issues! And what’s to stop them? The last board did it and this one is no better.
This is why the spark of resurrection in the West is so gratifying, as also the change unfolding there. At least the Zoroastrians will multiply, grow and prosper there. And India will someday get the same status as Iran, and see hordes of overseas Zoroastrians visit Udvada and other Parsi bastions as historical places of pilgrimage.
As a member of the community and with my name listed on the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) voters list, I think I am entitled to a clarification from BPP chairman Yazdi Desai regarding his letter withdrawing the recommendation of Dinshaw Tamboly to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). He has marked a copy each to one M. R. Bhada and F. Punthakey Mistree and T. S. Parakh. I am not aware of the contribution of these persons towards social/welfare work for the community or towards amelioration of poverty within the community.
It is very amusing to note that the dhongi lobby on Facebook were agitating on the issue ahead of the BPP recommending Tamboly’s name. How is it that they came to know weeks prior?
Tamboly’s views on religious issues are well-known and the Worli Prayer Hall has been in existence for over a year. Was Desai not aware of his religious views when he recommended Tamboly’s name? Is it possible that his name was recommended by other trustees and he had to agree to the name as he wanted to please both the sides? At any time did Tamboly approach Desai to recommend his name? If not, then why should he expect him to give a two-line undertaking?
The community, and particularly my circle, would like to know what was the reaction or opinion of Desai’s three colleague-trustees when the current letter was sent to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Was the letter sent after consulting them (he may not have consulted trustees Viraf Mehta and Armaity Tirandaz)? If it was sent unilaterally, then the community would find little difference between Desai and his predecessor.
Desai states, "To the best of my knowledge and belief,” except for Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada, none of the other high priests of India have endorsed Tamboly because of his anti-orthodox and anti-religious convictions and actions. "Best of my knowledge” implies imagination/inference.
Desai further writes that a sizable section of the Parsi community is very unhappy and upset at the recommendation of Tamboly. On what basis did he assess that a ‘sizable section’ of the community was unhappy and upset. The numerical strength of The Parsee Voice was clearly visible when around two dozen of their followers opposed the Heritage Walk conducted by Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia at Doongerwadi a few months ago. So do two dozen or even 50 vocal individuals constitute a sizable section?
Desai’s communication states that at the recently concluded meeting in Bombay of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India almost all the anjuman representatives of India expressed disappointment and dismay at the recommendation of Tamboly’s name. Should not the community know the names of the anjumans that actually expressed ‘disappointment and dismay?’ Most of these anjumans are represented by local persons from Bombay and have little or no roots in the places they represent.
After having promised transparency to the community at the time of elections, Desai needs to clarify these issues. In 2008, Arnavaz Mistry obtained the highest number of votes at the BPP trusteeship elections but eight years later she could not win. The community never forgets or forgives. The community deserves to know the truth and the whole truth.
HOMI DALAL
homeedalal@gmail.com
Dastur Kaikhushroo Dastur Meherjirana of Navsari had also sent a letter dated February 10, 2017 to the Prime Minister strongly recommending Tamboly’s name for the NCM appointment (see "A minority decision,” pg 27)
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I personally know Dinshaw Tamboly and believe he is the right person to represent the community at the National Commission for Minorities.
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet has good trustees, but they should not interfere in everything. Their mandate is to look after and maintain Parsi colonies and safeguard all the land and fire temples all over India. They should ensure that there is peace and harmony in the community.
No doubt some Bombay Parsis are still orthodox, but they should start looking at what will happen to our community and to our children in future. Children today are more educated and they want to know the truth about our old religion. Their mentor today is the computer and the Gathas. More than 30% of the community is already married outside but continue to remain as Parsi/ Zoroastrians.
Why is it that the majority from those who study abroad never return to India? It is sad that instead of sitting down and sorting out the problems, everything is published in the media, confusing the community, and especially the young. I sincerely hope that this is sorted out amicably.