“Future forgotten”

They had a mission to survive in difficult times… and they achieved success,” Udvada high priest and member of the National Commission for Minorities Dastur Khurshed Dastoor said about early Zoroastrian migrants to the country. He was addressing the gathering at Sanjan Day on November 16, 2018. The Day, celebrated annually from 1981 onwards, commemorates the landing of the first Zoroastrian migrants to the coastal town.
Referring to the current annual death rate (around 800) that is four times the birth rate (under 200), Dastoor said, "Vakhat kaforo chhè (times are bad).” Estimating that the number of community members will be about 20,000 in India in 2050, he asked, "What will happen to the over 50 fire temples in Bombay and the nearly 100 scattered over the rest of India?” It is no use only forwarding WhatsApp messages. Get up and do something, he exhorted the largely middle-aged audience. "Aapra haath ma chhè kèm bachvanu (it is in our hands how to save ourselves),” he commented. The high priest noted that while all governments in the past have supported Parsis, "none (have done) as much as the current one.” Funds for the next phase of the Jiyo Parsi project (Rs 12 crores; the previous phase provided Rs 10 crores) have been sanctioned.

(Left) jashan in progress, (right) Sanjan Stambh

Chairman of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trusts Dinshaw Tamboly reiterated the sentiment. "We do not seem to be doing anything for ourselves… We take pleasure in our past but have forgotten the future,” he commented, reflecting on the Parsi population that according to the Government of India census fell from 1,14,000 in 1941 to 57,264 in 2011.
"We humble folks of Sanjan are humbled by your presence… Have a good ‘Parsipanu time,’” said Bapsy Daviervala, president of the Sanjan Memorial Column Local Committee (SMCLC) while welcoming the gathering.
Fresh from his debut in first class cricket for Gujarat at the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy matches on November 1, 21-year-old left-handed bowler Arzan Nagwaswalla was the guest of honor. The shy lad, for whom "it was a pleasure to be felicitated on this great occasion,” made his appearance for Gujarat at the 2017-18 limited over Vijay Hazare Trophy. While introducing the cricketer, Khooshnum Daviervala informed the audience that he had first played for Gujarat’s under-16 team in 2013 and since then has been on the state’s under-19 and under-22 teams. Earlier, Dastoor, in his address had hoped that the lad would follow in the footsteps of famous Parsi cricketers like Nari Contractor and Polly Umrigar. "And Farokh Engineer,” yelled a member of the audience!
Born in Surat and schooled at Jadi Rana High School (JRHS) in Sanjan, Bapsy was Nagwaswalla’s first teacher at the Wonderland Nursery run by her, Khooshnum noted. The cricketer is proud of having taken four wickets in the second Ranji match he played. "If I maintain and improve my form, who knows, I might play for India some day,” he confided to Parsiana. "Pachhi tau ooperwala na haath ma chhè (the rest is in the hands of God),” he said. While his father Rohinton works at an industrial plant in Sarigam near Umbergaon, and mother Maheru is a homemaker, his elder brother Vispi works in a company in Vapi.
The event was flagged off with a jashan at the Jehangier Jamshedji Vimadalal Pavilion on the grounds where the 50 ft Baroda granite memorial column, the Sanjan Stambh, stands. Led by Dastoor, Ervads Faramroze Sidhwa and Rayomand and Cawas Dastoor participated in the prayers, witnessed by about 150 community members that the Pavilion could accommodate. Master of ceremonies and SMCLC member Pareecheher Daviervala told Parsiana that earlier at 7 a.m. another jashan was performed by the mobeds of Nargol and Saronda, Ervads Darabshah Goradia and Soli Panthaki. While the second jashan was going on, others gathered under the pink and white pandal on the grounds. Some partook of tea thoughtfully provided for those who would have arrived into Sanjan on early morning trains from Bombay and other places. Cheerful girl students of the JRHS served the refreshments. Yet other attendees browsed at the half-a-dozen stalls selling Parsi food items and other artifacts.
Pareecheher recollected the contribution of her father Rohintan and Saronda resident Nariman Balsara in starting the commemorative event 37 years ago. She narrated that at the first event, the organizers were happily surprised to welcome over 6,000 attendees when they were expecting 2,000. "After 6,250 they stopped counting,” she quipped. About 1,100 people attended this year, she told Parsiana.
Acknowledging the support of the late former Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Jamshed Guzder in the initial years, she described how the organizers would receive him at Sanjan station, offer him glasses of toddy and then bring him to the venue "where he would (participate and) enjoy the sumptuous meal.” Guzder’s son Cyrus has continued the tradition of monetary support to the SMCLC, she added. The late BPP trustee Rustom Tirandaz was a regular attendee, Pareecheher mentioned. She listed some persons who had served as chief guests on previous occasions: Gujarat governor Nawal Kishore Sharma, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Bombay University’s first woman vice chancellor Dr Mehroo Bengalee.
Jeetendrasingh Gaekwad, great-grandnephew of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of the erstwhile princely state of Baroda, and an admirer of Parsi culture, as well as (trustees of) the BPP had sent their best wishes for the function, Pareecheher narrated. No trustee of the BPP was present. Quipped the high priest during his address, "Elections (for trusteeship) are not near.” Applause greeted Jiyo Parsi counselor Pearl Mistry’s announcement that 170 babies were born under their initiative.
The vote of thanks proposed by Khooshnum acknowledged the priests, BPP trustees, audience, donors, specifically Cyrus Guzder, the Western Railway for providing stops at Sanjan for the Flying Ranee and Gujarat Express on this special day, the police and the local administration, and the various service providers.
Dressed in a white tee shirt imprinted with the countenance of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji, behdin pasbaan Marzban Wadia sang a song composed by him extolling the virtues of the liberal thinker and politician, and yet another on the virtues of the community. This was followed by Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti. Attendees partook of a complimentary lunch catered by Bombay caterer Kaizad Patel with the JRHS students assisting in the serving.