Desai’s dedication

Died: Yazdi Hosi Desai (pictured), 62, erstwhile chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and ex officio president of The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI), also chairman of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) and joint managing director of Writer Corporation; on November 2, 2021 in Bombay following complications from a severe paralytic stroke.
"Being at the helm of the affairs of the BPP has never been an easy task for anyone holding that position. Not really an enviable position to be in, as the recent past and present scenario has been very volatile on the board,” declared Desai’s successor Armaity Tirandaz, adding, "In this position as a chairman one has to have broad shoulders and a broader mind to accept the accolades and brickbats which come his way.” She appreciated that he occupied this position "like a dedicated soldier, doing his very best for the community he truly adored... Yazdi wanted his corporate culture to be imbibed in the workings of the BPP and he tried his best to bring about more efficiency in its workings.”
The first time Desai contested the BPP trusteeship elections against Dinshaw Tamboly in 2003 he realized he did not stand a chance when "attempting to battle a Goliath.” Five years later when he fought the elections conducted on the principles of adult franchise, he garnered the fifth highest votes among the 32 candidates. During the nearly 12 years he served as BPP trustee from 2008 to 2020, the last five of which were as chairman until he resigned from the post last December, Desai’s relationship with his co-trustees was cordial and confrontational at different times.
"He selflessly devoted his time and energy to the causes of the Punchayet and the community” contributing his "talent and governance skills to the BPP,” noted a condolence letter to his wife Anahita signed by his co-trustees Tirandaz, Noshir Dadrawala, Kersi Randeria, Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur. The letter further commended him for being "a thorough professional and a soft-spoken individual who was a passionate listener… Yazdi was deeply involved in the working of all Trust matters and was meticulous and thorough in all his decision making and served every institution…with sincerity of purpose and utmost dedication. Yazdi was kind and extremely generous however at the same time he was a strict disciplinarian. He was religious and a man who lived a very principled life.”

The year 2019 was a turbulent period for the BPP board. In January, four of the seven trustees passed a vote of no confidence against Desai alleging he was showing favoritism in allotment and management of BPP flats and permitting Anahita to function as a "shadow chairperson.” In May, Yazdi moved a resolution at the FPZAI meet to oust five of his co-trustees from the FPZAI and to change the registered office of the all-India body from the BPP to the Framjee Cawasjee Institute. By the end of the year, the trustees were able to bury most of their differences and continue functioning, albeit with strained relations.
"Yazdi and I started off with differing ideologies but over a period of time, we came to truly respect and appreciate each other. Yazdi always stood up for what was right, against all the odds. He was truly courageous, he walked the talk and had the guts to take on the powers that be, no matter the consequences,” wrote Randeria in his Parsi Times of November 6. "As chairman, not only did he keenly encourage my initiatives, but also wholeheartedly participated in them — be it the renovation of the Gamadia Hostel or improvements to the Doongerwadi. In fact, Yazdi’s steadfast commitment to resolving the issues of Doongerwadi resulted in kick-starting the renovations at Doongerwadi,” acknowledged Randeria.
"I’ll do anything to protect Doongerwadi and our beautiful system of dakhmenashini,” Yazdi had declared in one of his election campaign meetings. Describing himself as "a deeply religious person committed to all the established traditions and tenets of the Zoroastrian faith,” he had stated, "I love my ethnicity, my Parsipanu and all the eccentricities that go with it.” When seeking reelection as a BPP trustee in 2015, Yazdi had remarked, "My major contribution is to bring some semblance of sanity and financial discipline.” Insisting on signing every cheque jointly, he further clarified, "I don’t sign blank cheques and I don’t sign blindly.”
"As a trustee I often differed with him on ideological issues but never doubted his genuine zeal to do good for the community. He discharged his fiduciary duties with passion and diligence. He worked tirelessly and selflessly balancing his professional life with the onerous responsibility he carried as chairman of the BPP. He worked till late in the night, burning the candle of his life at both ends,” commented Dadrawala in his social media post.
"Whatever the equation between Yazdi and my father (Dinshaw), Yazdi maintained a civil relationship with me (even though) we had our bouts of disagreements,” appreciated Mehta in his eulogy in the Parsi Junction of November 7. "In fact once he even told me that he admired what I was doing at a young age by becoming a trustee and giving my time to the community,” added Mehta.
Neighbors at Rustom Baug, Dastur mentioned that their interaction increased during the last three years after he was elected to the BPP board. "In spite of having some differences on the board there were many occasions when we have shared good times at social events. At community events he always had a funny quip and encouraged our community to reach greater heights.”
Most attuned with Yazdi on the BPP board during his first term was then co-trustee Khojeste Mistree, both also being co-founders of WAPIZ. "To the BPP he brought all his financial acumen and examined every transaction in great detail. His unwillingness to yield on issues that mattered often put him at loggerheads with some trustees. He was passionate about justice and he believed that to be indifferent or silent when it mattered most, allowed evil to triumph,” Mistree shared his views on Parsiana’s request.
"We became friends when the vultures vanished from the skyline of Bombay and our friendship grew in inverse proportion to their disappearance,” remarked Mistree. They were both equally determined that a cremate-ni bungli should not be permitted on Doongerwadi and neither should a world body of Zoroastrians that was open to the idea of accepting "so-called converts” as against retaining the Parsi Irani Zoroastrian identity that recognized only children born of both Parsi parents or a Parsi father. Following their preliminary meeting in 2001, "we stood together and shared a common sacred ground throughout the controversies that weighed down the community over the past 20 years. For me personally, Yazdi’s unstinting support politically and for issues that became endemic to the faith were invaluable,” added Mistree.
"Under Yazdi’s fearless support, WAPIZ battled the non-traditional winds of change arbitrarily forced upon the community by Parsis from America… The WAPIZ Page sponsored by Areez Khambatta became an effective tool to voice our opinion on a number of thorny community topics. Yazdi wrote prolifically, working late into the night with Anahita. He had a dry sense of humor and many poignant controversies were sublimated through political cartoons and sketches of opponents,” acknowledged Mistree. Although known to be late for most BPP board meetings, Yazdi reserved time to make himself available, along with Mistree, for grievance redressal at the WAPIZ office on second and fourth Saturdays.

Clockwise from above l: Hosi, Katy, Yazdi and Anahita Desai

"We must never sacrifice our ethnicity and the customs and traditions of our religion,” Yazdi had asserted, announcing, "I will vigorously and relentlessly strive to preserve them… Our ancestors did not come here (to India) to make a cocktail… People who say that ours is a universal religion are wrong…Our forefathers had sacrificed material wealth only to preserve their religious identity… Renegade priests should not be viewed as bichara (unfortunate) priests,” the traditionalist had proclaimed his views from different platforms.
Yazdi was "a stalwart of our community in India and will be greatly missed for his many achievements,” noted a condolence message from Neville Shroff, non-executive chair of the Global Working Group (GWG). "From our experiences at the GWG, and I am sure other members will agree, he will be fondly remembered for his smiling, soft-spoken, tolerant and persevering nature,” added Shroff.
Yazdi had his fair share of supporters and detractors in different baugs run by the BPP. The Panthaki Baug Welfare Centre considered him a "beacon of inspiration, for selfless service to the community in a fair and rightful manner. His work as trustee and chairman of the BPP has been immaculate and game-changing…” The Bombay based Sazemane Javanan Zartoshty-e-Irani planned a porseh (remembrance) meeting with prayers, fruits and snacks distribution on November 28 at Khareghat Colony Hall in honor of Yazdi and Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji.
Although his world revolved around the Parsi community, Yazdi was "different from a typical Parsi man. He was not interested in bikes and cars and did not learn driving. He loved cycling,” stated Anahita. A regular at the Byculla maidan, for 10 years he was elected captain of the Super Cricket Club. "He never indulged himself in designer watches or clothes or trips abroad, at the most occasionally going out for dinner… He did not drink or smoke but like a typical Parsi he could swear like a sailor!” she added. He enjoyed Mohammed Rafi songs and his favorite movie was The Godfather trilogy that he never tired of viewing.
Born to Katy and Hosi Desai, Yazdi’s education was at Bombay’s Antonio DeSouza and St Mary’s schools after which he graduated in commerce from Sydenham College. On completing his articles in chartered accountancy from A. F. Ferguson he joined Writer Corporation as an accounts assistant. His loyalties remained with the same firm until the end. Having risen to the rank of joint managing director, in charge of legal and compliance, he had been granted an extension until 2022 but a paralytic stroke in April 2020 compelled him to opt out of professional and community responsibilities.
More important than praying from the religious scriptures or regularly visiting a fire temple was practicing charity, believed Yazdi who having experienced the travails of moving from sanatorium to sanatorium in his younger days was empathetic to the needs of others. He was known as a giver, supporting innumerable community projects and individuals who appealed for help. A trustee of the Athravan Educational Trust, he also guided the workings of the Cama Baug Agiary and the Amroli Agiary in Surat as a trustee. He and Anahita had contributed Rs 10 lakhs to the renovation of the Godavara Agiary in 2019. Since Kripa Foundation, a registered trust devoted to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug and substance abuse and related HIV/AIDS affliction is being supported by Writer Corporation, Yazdi served as a nominee trustee on that nongovernmental organization.
In his resolve to create befitting "support systems for the community,” Yazdi had expressed his keenness "to live out my promise through courage, compassion and character.”
The tireless trustee is survived by his wife Anahita.