A major facelift

"It has been a delight to serve as the president of The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman (BPZA) and the willing cooperation and bonhomie with fellow trustees is indeed a pleasant experience,” stated Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (Retd) who will complete a year in office in September 2018. "I can very confidently say that the board of trustees are all on the same page to improve and further consolidate the welfare and well-being of our community in Bangalore,” he added.
Within six months of his stewardship, the Bai Dhunmai and Cawasji Dadabhai Daremeher that is managed by the Anjuman was renovated to give it "a grand look.” The sanctum sanctorum was fitted with new marble; new lighting was installed; internal and external repairs and painting as also other improvements were seen in the agiary that was built in 1925.
Last month, on July 29, the community was invited to a jashan and high tea to celebrate the completion of renovations to The Lady Jehangir Kothari Memorial Hall in the proximity of the agiary. The historic edifice of the community in the heart of Bangalore city was given "a completely new and aesthetic look internally while maintaining its grand and iconic exterior,” mentioned Major. A new sound system and climate control was introduced, lighting improved, furniture replaced, a modern kitchen with the necessary galley equipment incorporated for the convenience of the community that gathers here to celebrate different occasions.
Currently attention is being given to the Tower of Silence. While the bungli and other structures on the premises have been renovated with additional facilities, the internal paths/roads as also the garden and foliage are being relaid.
Barring a donation for the new marble at the Daremeher, "the entire renovation has been done from the funds earmarked for their maintenance,” noted Major. He appreciated the commitment of Anjuman honorary secretary Dinshaw Cawasji who oversaw the work at the agiary and Doongerwadi, and community livewire Zarine Kharas who took charge of Kothari Hall.
"Accountability on the part of all trustees is very visible in the tasks allotted to them,” maintained Major. Working with him on the trust board "in a very cordial atmosphere... to address issues expeditiously and effectively” are vice president Shereyar Vakil, Cawasji, honorary treasurer Jehangir Writer, with Phiroze Bharda, Dr Merzi Marker, and Yezdi Unwalla as the Cawasji family nominee.

Refurbished interiors of Kothari Hall;

Convinced that an elected board of trustees should be transparent, keeping the members informed on finances and future plans, he realizes the necessity to seek the electorate’s views and inputs for better functioning. Approaching the general body may result in "better views than those contributed by the seven trustees. There are issues which you must discuss… As trustee you are not God.”
If the trustees plan to incur an expenditure exceeding five lakh rupees, they require the sanction of the general body, as stipulated in the BPZA rules. During the last few months, they convened "two Special Requisition Meetings to get the general body’s approval on improvements/renovation of the trust properties and for other administrative approvals. The resolutions were unanimously approved by the general body,” Major took pride in reporting. Unless the trust board’s annual report and financial statement of accounts is made known to the community, "how do you know whether the trustees are doing what they are supposed to?” he enquires.
When he was elected president last year, he had addressed a letter to the members of the Anjuman wherein he had expressed that a trustee is "not only in charge of looking after Trust assets but very responsible for the welfare of the community with the primary job being to reach out and keep the community apprised of issues.”
A firm proponent of team work, Major asserts, "If a board doesn’t work harmoniously, how will it ever look after the community? They can do it only if the seven are in agreement. If there is dissent, find out why. If someone is unhappy, find out the reason and the best option available. In any board there are bound to be differences of opinion. How best can they be resolved in the interests of the team?”
The friction among the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees causes him dismay, more so when they decide "to wash their dirty linen in public.” As far as he is concerned, "The jurisdiction of the BPP trustees ends in Bombay. The BPP cannot be the voice of Zoroastrians in India.” Bangalore had dropped out of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India in the late 1970s.
Amazed at "the huge differences in the practice of the religion in Bombay, Delhi, North America,” Major states, "There are so many personal interpretations. There should be no rhetoric when discussing religion. There should be an independent body of Parsi scholars who should sit and clear all doubts… If you have knowledge, educate the community on what is right and wrong… There is no reasoned debate or scriptural evidence ever provided to prove something sensibly to the community.”
There are around 200 resident Zoroastrian families in Bangalore contributing to a total count of approximately 600 with an additional floating population of nearly 100, according to Major who is keen that the Anjuman bring out a directory every five years. The members of the Anjuman currently number around 300. Those seeking membership have to collect the application form along with a copy of the Anjuman rules and regulations and the trust deed from the Anjuman office. The form filled by the applicant needs to be recommended by two members and forwarded to the honorary secretary. The applicant is then summoned for an interview as per the procedure stipulated on the Anjuman website bpza.org If accepted, the applicant has to pay Rs 1,000 annually for ordinary membership fees or Rs 5,000 for life membership,
With the majority of the community members in Bangalore aged 60 plus, the trustees are presently exploring the scope and funding for an old age home on a property donated by a Parsi lady a few years ago. According to the optimistic president, "Some plans are being worked out and, hopefully, we should come up with a workable solution soon.”
For an aging community to understand the changes in the world could be difficult, he realizes, and therefore advocates the need for younger members to involve themselves in anjuman affairs. He cites as an example the youthful team that is active on the two-year-old Bangalore chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC). Wearing a dual cap as president of the WZCC Bangalore chapter that hosted the successful global annual general meeting last December, Major confessed that after retiring as the chief of the Indian Air Force in 2009 and settling down in Bangalore he became involved in community activities thanks to the persistence of Bangalore restaurateur Kharas "who was after me. It was a good challenge… a learning curve initially for me.”

Audience at the jashan (right); inset: Zarine Kharas

Commending WZCC’s "excellent young team, very enthusiastic, very keen to do things,” he notes that "all they required was advice. After that I never needed to interfere. This was the first major event that members of this chapter were involved with. Let’s give them some time.” In Bangalore there are opportunities in information technology, aerospace, health and several other fields. "Some of our youngsters are outstanding,” appreciates Major and named Bangalore resident Ferzaan Engineer who created Cytecare as a specialty hospital that offers advanced treatment for cancer patients.
Commenting on the role of WZCC and its opportunities for networking, Major remarks that "good mentoring from people with a wealth of experience could help overcome slackness among youngsters who are reluctant to forge ahead. Our Parsi youth would do very well if they leave their home confines and venture out.”