“Hurdles to the Hospital”

In "Hurdles to the Hospital” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, March 7, 2018) former Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta confirms getting better offers from Breach Candy Hospital and Dr Keki Turel for the redevelopment of Parsi Lying-In Hospital (PLIH) but as usual without quoting the terms and conditions of the offer. Except Mehta, no one seems to know the details of the secret offers made to him. He has been questioned time and again, but he has not cared to inform the community.
When questioned by Parsiana, he replied, "They are in the BPP files.”
No one has ever noticed them till now and even BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala who has submitted his resignation was unable to find them. Does he mean to imply that the files are deliberately destroyed? In any case, he surely must have copies. Unless he places these offers before the community, how are we to judge whether they were better offers? Had he apprised the members of the managing committee of the PLIH on the merits of the deal, they would have surely acted in the best interest of the institution and not created hurdles. Mehta’s claims of a better deal seem frivolous and deceptive to mislead the community.
Mehta admits that "for the last 30 years, the PLIH property has been neglected and unused.” Very true! But who is to be blamed for this unpardonable negligence except him, as he was at the helm of affairs as a trustee and a chairman for an extended period of over two decades? The property belongs to the trust, and the trustees are mere custodians during the tenure of their term. As elected trustees it is their duty and moral responsibility to safeguard the interest of the property. What had he done to safeguard the interest of the property? All the time, he keeps harping on the same issue: why were public advertisements not given? Dadrawala has clarified that as the lease period had expired, it was not prudent to do so.
In 1924, the then BPP trustees acknowledged the valuable services rendered by the competent members of the managing committee; in the interest of the institution they did not interfere in the day-to-day management of the Hospital.
In the last two decades when the Hospital remained unused, and the structure became dilapidated, it was the members of the managing committee who took interest, tried their utmost and struck a favorable deal with Krimson Health Ventures Private Limited.
As per the plan, had it been converted into a world class center of excellence in treatment of orthopedic and neurological diseases of the spine and joints, we might have seen a building buzzing with life and activity instead of a defunct, dilapidated, ghostly structure. It was music to the ears that this place of our birth would be rejuvenated to bring happiness and relief to people suffering from acute pain. The negotiation with Krimson started in 2010. If there had been no hurdles, within a few years, it would have started generating steady income instead of incurring expenses on maintenance, repairs, etc as is currently being done. The precious asset meant to generate wealth, has become a liability. We have no doubt missed an opportunity.
Even if it brought no special benefit to the Parsi community, it would have been a matter of pride if people of all communities got premium treatment for orthopedic and neurological diseases in the heritage property. Like the Tata Memorial and J. J. Hospital, it would have been a landmark gift from the Parsi community to the city of Bombay where we live and once thrived.
From early days, punchayets were formed to settle community disputes without the intervention of courts, thereby saving time and resources. Here we are constantly knocking on the doors of the court for needless litigation and wasting trust money meant to help the poor and the needy. Infighting among the trustees has tarnished the image of the community as also allegations of nepotism, misappropriation of funds, cheating, the physical scuffles and abusive allegations.
Thankfully the present board of trustees is not repeating the history of the PLIH in the case of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital (PGH). The BPP trustees have unanimously, unequivocally, firmly and wholeheartedly decided to support the new secular hospital project setting aside their differences and working in unison in the best interest of the community. The grand PGH will serve the community for many more years and in a better way thanks to the magnanimous donation by Jal and Pervin Shroff.
PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com