The welcoming Anjuman

The Parsi population in Delhi, according to the Members Directory 2023 of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) shows a drop of 197 individuals or 30% over the past 14 years. The Members Directory lists 473 individuals in Delhi, 64 fewer than the 537 shown in the 2016 directory and a drop of 133 from the 670 individuals listed in the 2009 directory. The total families in 2023 number 288 in the National Capital Region with 148 members in the rest of India, 61 overseas and 73 whose whereabouts are not known.

"Among all the Parsi Anjumans in India, the Delhi Anjuman has the unique distinction of having an ongoing floating population of Parsi families who come for work in the professions, the information technology sector, government and armed services jobs, etc, but who continue to keep their roots in their hometown and after some years return to them. We are happy to observe that in recent times some families are buying properties and homes in Delhi, an indication that they wish to reside here permanently,” stated DPA president Ava Khullar in her letter addressed to Anjuman members and printed in the DPA Members Directory 2023.

"Several of the new members are intermarried couples whom we welcome happily in our midst. The DPA with an enlightened board of trustees has continued to uphold its progressive values. I am confident this happy tradition will continue in the future,” she concluded.

Delhi is among the few anjumans in India that publishes a directory of its members. "The onerous task of revising the directory was taken up by a committee led by (trustee) Dr Niloufer Shroff during this year,” noted Cyrus Engineer in his secretary’s report.

Two grave problems

"Two perennial issues that the aramgah committee has to deal with are branches of trees falling and damaging graves and a monkey menace where the water tanks are concerned,” according to the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in September 2022. "Some of the graves in the oldest part of the aramgah needed to be redone as they had collapsed completely. In many cases, the families of those buried there could no longer be contacted. Other graves needed repairs. The committee, with the permission of the board, has started the process of repairing, renovating and cleaning this section of the aramgah...

"The graves in the oldest part of the aramgah have been repaired and polished and the names rewritten on graves where required… We would like to place on record our gratitude to members who have voluntarily come forward and ensured that graves of people who have no family” are taken care of, notes the secretary’s report for 2022-2023.

L-r, top: Rohin Marker, Ashdeen Lilaowala, Dr Niloufer Shroff, Cyrus Engineer, Ava Khullar;

above: Adil Nargolwala, Pervez Bajan, Dr Sanaya Nariman, Kavas Kapadia, Cushrow Jassawala

Above and left: Members at the AGM

The DPA has also reported the state of some other aramgahs in the north. The Simla aramgah is being maintained by a caretaker-cum-gardener, Vinay Mishra, "who has been with us since last seven years and ensures cleanliness and takes care of the graves.” The last burial was in the 1980s. DPA vice president "Adil Nargolwala has been visiting the Simla aramgah and ensuring that the place is free from encroachment. (Trustee) Dr Sanaya Nariman will be getting the walls of the aramgah repaired…

"The aramgah at Hathras has been completely encroached. In Amritsar since there are no Parsis, it has been shut down. The Srinagar one is well maintained by the armed forces,” stated the report.

Ervad Cawas Bagli proposed a committee to check in on senior Parsi members living by themselves. He said he would share a list of 45 people "who needed assistance.”

Shapoor Mistry, chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company "during one of his visits to our fire temple (Kaikhusru Pallonji Katrak Dar-e-Meher) graciously offered to help renovate and restore the premises. We immediately took him up on his offer and a committee was formed comprising trustees Kavas Kapadia (architect), joint secretary Ashdeen Lilaowala (designer) and Nargolwala. We are happy to say work has already begun and should take about a year or so to complete.”

The dining room and kitchen area in the DPA’s Mengusi Dharamshala that used to house the eatery Rustom’s has been converted into living quarters for the agiary’s kamdar (helper). Residents are supplied meals from Baglis Kitchen as well as by an old staff member, stated the vice president. One can also order in on apps like Zomato and Swiggy, he stated. The bathrooms in the bungli have been renovated, thanks to trustee Rohin Marker.

The minutes of the 2022 AGM reported the Anjuman’s finances are "ably managed by the finance committee (and) are in a healthy state enabling us not only to meet the continuing expenses of repairs and maintenance but also to contribute to worthy charities and give aid to members in need of help.”

Total income for the year was Rs 1.38 crore (USD 165,478), and that has remained almost unchanged from the previous year, states the report for 2022-2023. The Dharamshala’s revenues have shown a healthy increase post Covid and are Rs 99.6 lakh (USD 119,605) against Rs. 89.1 lakh (USD 106,996) in the previous year. "This year-on-year increase in Dharamshala revenues has been offset by the reduction in income from the closure of the canteen (Rustom’s).” The income and expenditure account shows a deficit of Rs 14.6 lakh (USD 17,532) as against a deficit of Rs 3.8 lakh (USD 4,563) in the previous year. Investments though increased from Rs 4.36 crore (USD 523,574) to Rs 5.35 crore (USD 642,459).

Rupees 27 lakh (USD 32,423) was spent on waterproofing of the Dharamshala and four lakh rupees (USD 4,803) on the aramgah. Bhiwandiwala Hall bookings, which were down because of the lockdown period, are "now showing an upward trend and we look forward to a better utilization of the Hall.”

To reduce operating losses and to be environmentally sustainable, the board of trustees is taking steps to enhance the capacity "of our existing solar plant,” notes the report. An appeal to raise Rs 32 lakh (USD 38,427) for the project was sent out by Nargolwala in August and the Anjuman received around Rs 13 lakh (USD 15,611).

DPA’s AGM was held on September 24, 2023 at the Bhiwandiwala Hall. The current board of DPA trustees additionally comprises honorary treasurer Pervez Bajan and trustees Marazban Zaiwalla and Cushrow Jassawala.

With inputs from Farrokh Jijina