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FPZAI meeting
A meeting of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India was recently held in
Mumbai. Here is a round-up of the two-day meet and all the topics that were discussed…
Seen on the main table (l-r): Mr. Muncherji Cama, Mrs. Anavaz Mistry, Mr. Mancher Mubarakai, Mr. Khojeste Mistree, Mr. Yazdi Desai, Mr. Dinshaw Mehta,
Mr. Jimmy Mistry, Mr. Tehmton Anklesaria, Mr. Darayus Master, Mr. Kerfegar Antia and Mrs. Armaity Tirandaz
T
he Executive Council Meeting
and the Annual General Meeting of
the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian
Anjumans of India (FPZAI) was held in the
hall adjacent to the Banaji AtashBehram
at Charni Road on February 11 and 12,
2012. Prior to the meeting, a jashan was
performed at the Banaji AtashBehram.
Delegates from under mentioned
anjumans and punchayets in India attended
the meeting:
Ankleshwar, Bardoli, Bhagwa, Bhatha,
Bharuch, Bhesan, Billimora, Chikhli, DamanVapi, Davier, Dumas, Gandevi, Godhra, Illav,
Karanj, Khergam, Kutch, Mahuva, MandviMangrol, Navsari, Pardi, Rajkot, Shri Surat
Parsi Punchayet, Surat Punchayet Trust
Funds, Saronda, Tavdi, Udvada Sodfalia
Behdin Anjuman, Vadodara, Valsad, Vansda,
Vesu and Vyara – all representing the West
Zone ‘B’ Anjumans.
Abu Road, Badnera, Borivali Suburban
Association, Dahanu Road Zorastrian
Agiary Trust Fund, Deolali-Nasik, Iranian
Zoroastrian Anjuman, Panchgani, Pune,
Satara, Solapur, Thana, Zai Bordi and
Bombay Parsi Punchayet from West Zone ‘A’
anjumans.
Belgaum, Madras, and Vizag attended the
meeting from the South Zone and Bhopal,
Kanpur, Chhattisgarh, Jabalpur, Jhansi,
Mhow and Ratlam from the North Zone.
None from East Zone.
Representatives from Jam-e-Jamshed,
Parsiana and Parsi Voice were also present.
The meeting commenced with a
Humbandagi.
A minute of silence was observed in
memory of Mr. Behram K. Laskari, ex-Chief
Executive Bombay Parsi Punchayet and Mr.
Hoshang Debara of Agra. Then, Mr. Dinshaw
R. Mehta, in his presidential address,
welcomed one and all.
Minutes of the last meeting, held on
March 12 and 13, 2011, at Valsad, which had
been circulated earlier, were confirmed with
small modifications. The audited accounts
for the year ended March 31, 2011, were
considered and adopted unanimously.
Presidentship of West Zone ‘B’ was the only
contested election.
After quite a bit of animated discussion,
the President exercised his right under
Rule 10 of the Federation, on the ground
that their desired discontinuation even if
treated as their resignation had not been
brought before the Executive Council or the
General Body, nor accepted by them and
hence allowed these anjumans to continue
as members of FPZAI as well as accepted
the Udvada Sodfalia Behdin Anjuman as
Membership
A controversy arose regarding the
continuation of membership of six anjumans
of Gujarat — Udvada, Shri Surat Parsi
Anjuman Punchayet, Bhagwa, Bhatha,
Bhesan and Karanj — especially as Vice
The BPP Review 18
March 2012
Mr. Darayas Master
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Mr. Sarosh J. Maneckshaw
Mr. Kerfegar Antia
permanent representative on the Executive
Council as per the FPZAI Constitution.
Subsequently, Godhra and Chhatisgarh were
enrolled as new members.
Vizag – South Zone; and Mr. Tehmton
Anklesaria of Ratlam – North Zone.
Mr. Khojeste P. Mistree, BPP Trustee,
and Mr. Pervez B. Mehta, Trustee of
Bardoli, were reappointed as Jt. Honorary
Secretaries. Mr. Yazdi Desai, Trustee of the
BPP, and Mr. Merwan Irani, Chairman of
Iranian Zorastrian Anjuman, will continue
as Jt. Honorary Treasurer, and Mrs. Arnavaz
Mistry, Trustee of the BPP, as Executive
Secretary.
The five co-opted members on the
Executive Council are: Mr. Farrokh Rustomji
of Ahmedabad and Mr. Farokh Irani of Pune
(West Zone ‘A’); Mr. Pervez Mehta and
Mr. Percy Buhariwala (West Zone ‘B’); and
Mr. Cyrus Mancherji of Mhow (North Zone).
Election of Office Bearers
For the Vice Presidentship of West Zone ‘B’,
there were two candidates – Mr. Darayas
Master, Chairman of Surat Parsi Punchayet,
and Mr. Areez Khambatta of Ahmedabad,
and in order to avoid acrimony between two
stalwarts, Mr. Dinshaw Mehta and Mr. Yazdi
Desai used their good offices to arrive at an
amicable compromise solution, namely, during
the forthcoming biennium, these gentlemen
would share one year each. The sitting
Vice President of West Zone ‘B’, Mr. Areez
Khambatta, graciously agreed to step down
during the first year when Mr. Darayas Master
will hold the post. Mr. Khambatta will take
over in the second year.
The other Vice Presidents were elected
unanimously as they were the only candidates
for their respective posts. These were
Mr. Mancher Mubarakai of Dahanu – West
Zone ‘A’; Mr. Kerfegar Antia representing
Mrs. Arnavaz Mistry
Mr. Khojeste Mistree
Keynote Address
Mr. Sarosh J. Maneckshaw presented a very
lucid discourse on ‘Transformation and Loss
of Parsi Identity’. We Parsis have a unique
identity, which is defined by our religion,
ethnicity, and culture and traditions.
Dating back to the Achaemenian times,
Zoroastrianism has been an ethnic religion
Mr. Yazdi Desai
The BPP Review 19
for over 3000 years. Even after our first
migration and arrival in India, we remained
a non-proselytising community with strong
emphasis on ritual purity. In the 18th
century, we had the calendar controversy,
with a month’s difference between the Kadmi
and Shahenshahi calendars, but no change
in religion or ethnicity. Religion remained
unchanged and there were no interfaith
marriages. In 1787, the BPP was given legal
rights by the government, which led to the
illegalising of bigamy and child marriages.
Since 1836, the BPP went into decline and
lost its moral authority. The influence of
western education led to religious reforms
but ethnicity remained unchanged.
The second migration to North America
was between 1960 and 1990. Currently,
20 per cent of the Parsis live in North
America. They have rapidly abandoned
their ritual traditions. Many have stopped
wearing their sadra and kusti. The Jafariyan
Movement started in 1990, and advocates
prosetylisation and conversion. Religion
has been dichotomised between Parsis and
neo-Zoroastrians. Ethnicity is being lost.
Mr. Areez Khambatta
March 2012
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The word ‘Parsi’ is not mentioned anywhere
by Federation of Zoroastrian Associations
of North America (FEZANA), which is
promoting a neo-Zoroastrian identity that is
ignorant about religion. We Parsis are going
through a crisis of self-esteem. The Parsi
identity will disappear in North America in
two generations. There are now three groups
– the Parsis from India, Zarthostis from Iran
and neo-Zarthostis or converts. FEZANA is
moving towards a Zoroastrian identity and
away from the Parsi identity. We are losing
our Parsipanu.
When asked about his recommendations,
Mr. Maneckshaw suggested having more
religious classes for children.
Mr. Jimmy Mistry
The Global Working Group (GWG)
BPP Trustee Mr. Jimmy Mistry and Chairman
Mr. Dinshaw Mehta advocated a dialogue
and get together on a common platform,
encouraging an exchange of views and
interaction between representatives of
elected regional bodies FPZAI (representing
India), FEZANA (representing USA and
Canada), ZTFE (representing UK and
Europe), Iran and other associations,
e.g. Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Pakistan. Forty per cent of the
Parsis live outside of India. It was specifically
mentioned that WZO has been kept out
as it is not a Federation. This prompted
Mrs. Anahita Desai to question: “This GWG
does not define who is a Parsi? It accepts
a Zoroastrian as anyone who professes the
Zoroastrian faith. Both WZO and FEZANA
have changed their constitution, wherein
they admit even non-Zoroastrian spouses
as members with equal rights, including
the right to vote and to become office
bearers. How is such a body going to protect
and enhance the interest of Parsi Irani
Zoroastrians worldwide?”
Ms. Tannaz Parakh expressed
apprehensions about this GWG. It was
previously labelled the Coming Together
Round Table (CTRT) and had its meetings
in Dubai in 2009, in Mumbai in January
2011, and in London in October 2011. She
informed all the delegates that there is a
structure where all the regions will have
one vote. But it was immediately pointed
out that this is similar to all the punchayets
and anjumans in India having one vote in
FPZAI and that FEZANA does not use the
word ‘Parsi’. The GWG will represent all the
Zoroastrians of the world, including converts.
“Is the BPP not compromising its own
position as the apex body of Parsis the world
over?” she questioned.
Mr. Jimmy Mistry explained that coming
together is only for social, cultural and
economic issues and not religious issues.
Mr. Hoshang Vakil explained the background
of the cosmopolitan world body – the GWG
is new wine in an old bottle. Mr. Arzan
Wadia, on his website Parsi Khabar, promotes
Ali Jaffarey, a born Muslim. The BPP is
compromising its supremacy as the apex body,
where each of the regions will have one vote
in the proposed GWG, he cautioned. BPP
Trustee Mr. Khojeste Mistree warned, “We
are giving a sense of power to associations
in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New
Zealand. Mr. Sarosh Maneckhaw, yesterday,
in his presentation, told us how Parsi identity
is lost in FEZANA. The previous experience
of the cosmopolitan world body shows that
there is a hidden agenda of further weakening
the Parsi identity. In North America,
the conversion rate is high for political
reasons. Non-Zoroastrians want to become
Zoroastrians. Do network, but do not agree to
form a structure. For exchange programmes,
exchange must be between Parsi Irani youths
only and not just Zoroastrian youths or
children of converts”.
Muncherji Cama, when asked for his
views, said: “It is nice to socially interact,
but who are we to exchange with? How are
we going to police who is a Parsi or who is
a neo-Zoroastrian?” Mrs. Pervin Jehangir
said, “There is no harm in talking, but we
do not need to join them. One does not
have to become a Christian or British to talk
to an Englishman. Before FPZAI makes any
commitment, it must first get the consent
of all its member anjumans”. Muncherji
Cama again interjected, “Talk but in no way
should it be understood that FPZAI accepts
Zoroastrians who are not Parsis”. Many
delegates felt that Parsis in India should not
be isolated from those around the world,
while others felt that we have survived only
because we have retained our identity as
Parsi Zoroastrians. Had we intermarried or
converted we would have ceased to exist as
a distinct community.
Ultimately, it was decided that we could
continue our dialogue with the other
federations for social, cultural and economic
issues without forming a structural body,
and only having an informal get together of
federations.
In view of the sentiments of the
members, the President of FPZAI has issued
the following clarification to all traditional
and mainstream Zoroastrians as under:
Dear All,
Once again the traditionalists seem to
have misunderstood the coming together
meetings with the inherent danger of
alienating mainstream Zoroastrians.
The Trustees of the Bombay Parsi
Punchayet have had three coming together
meetings with FEZANA and ZTFE in
Dubai, Mumbai and London, and in all of
them it has been made clear that these
meetings are meant ONLY for bringing
together PARSI IRANI ZOROASTRIANS
AND NO OTHERS FOR SOCIAL, CULTURAL
AND ECONOMIC NETWORKING AND
INTERACTION.
The Trustees assure all members of our
community, of whatever shade, of this firm
commitment.
I hope that the fears of the traditionalists
are allayed with this clarification.
Warm regards to all,
Dinshaw Mehta
Mr. Muncherji Cama
The BPP Review 20
March 2012
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Mr. Merwan Irani
Mr. Dinshaw Mehta
Report of Anjumans
• Billimora Anjuman is willing to help any
anjuman who needs funds for their agiary
or dakhma.
• Pune has 69 acres of land which has been
fenced by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla. Two
hundred and thirty two flats allotted at
Lullanagar for poor and needy Parsis.
• The Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman has
disbursed more than R40 lakh towards
education, medical aid and poverty relief.
Merwan Irani, President of IZA, who
fought for the Tithal sanatorium right up
to the Supreme Court and won the case,
has entrusted the land to the Valsad Parsi
Anjuman. Mr. Pervez Irani stated that the
government is giving forest land to NGOs for
growing bawal at a nominal rent for a period
of 30 years. He suggested that the cultivation
of bawal be taken up to ensure a steady
supply of kathi to our places of worship.
• The Surat Parsi Punchayet has provided
109 housing units to Parsi families.
Nariman Home and Infirmary is run by the
punchayet and now has a well-equipped
physiotherapy centre. The SPP has planted
Mrs. Armaity Tirandaz
Mr. Tehmton Anklesaria
7,000 bawal trees on Dakhma lands.
R14,88,000 was given for poverty relief,
education and medical aid.
• Thana has 1,100 Parsis, a 232-year-old
agiary and 312-year-old dakhma.
• Murzban Wadia, President of the Davier
Anjuman, informed the attendees that there
is a dakhma in Gowada village managed
jointly by the Dahanu, Davier and Zai Bordi
Anjumans. Mr. Boman Irani, who runs an
old-age home in Dahanu, has planted bawal
trees and made a nice garden there.
• Khushman Tamboli of Rajkot suggested
a list of Parsi lawyers willing to give
guidance to anjumans be made available,
with their telephone numbers and e-mail
addresses. He also suggested that WZCC
could help to develop the land resources
of various anjumans. Rajkot Dadgah is
open from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
• Vyara has a dadgah, dharamshalla,
dakhma and a community hall. Anjumans
were requested to get their land records
updated with the government.
• Mr. Tehmton Anklesaria, Vice President of
the North Zone, arranged a two-day trip
to Udvada, in which 60 Parsis ranging from
The meeting in progress
The BPP Review 22
March 2012
12 to 85 years in age participated. The
Mhow Anjuman had given custodianship to
FPZAI in 1995. Lucknow, Chhattisgarh and
Godhra have approached the federation
for custodianship. Mr. Anklesaria requested
defunct anjumans (those having a Parsi
population of less than 50 Parsis) to
entrust custodianship to FPZAI.
• Mr. Khojeste Mistree, BPP Trustee,
informed that 222 babies were born over
the past five years due to the success of
the BPP’s Fertility Assistance Scheme under
Dr. Anahita Pundole.
• The BPP gives incentive for second child
of R3,000 per month till the child reaches
the age of 18. The BPP gives incentive
of R5,000 per month for every third and
fourth child born after January 1, 2012, till
that child attains the age of 18.
• Mr. Farokh Rustomji gave an overview of the
World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce’s
(WZCC) activities. The WZCC, along with
ZYNG, organised a successful networking
session, in which there were 75 participants.
• BPP Trustee Mrs. Armaity Tirandaz
highlighted the need for a space or
building in Mumbai, which can be used to
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466 youngsters have been enrolled, of which
324 are boys and 142 are girls. Intimation
about matrimonial meets is sent by e-mail
to those registered. BPP Trustee Mr. Jimmy
Mistry very kindly provides the premises
as also arranges for music and snacks for
the meetings. This year, two picnics were
organised. A talk by Ervad Dr. Ramiyar P.
Karanjia on the importance of marriage in the
Zoroastrian religion was organised.
Youth Activities
Mr. Pervez Mehta
start a centre for the care of children with
special needs.
• BPP Trustee Mrs. Arnavaz Mistry informed
the federation attendees about the activities
of the BPP Matrimonial Bureau, which
provides a platform for Parsi youth to meet
andfindmarriagepartnerswithinthe
community. Monthly meetings have been
organised over the past two years, where
A synopsis of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s
flagshipeventeachyear,TheHoliday
ProgrammeforYouth(HPY),whichhas
celebrated its Silver Jubilee, was given by Ms.
Azmin Mistry and Mr. Jamshed Master.
FOZYA President Mr. Shavir Irani spoke
about the All India Zoroastrian Youth
Congress, organised jointly with ZYNG last
year, in which 220 boys and 220 girls took
part. Viraf Dinshaw Mehta then spoke about
Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation
(ZYNG),asocialplatformforyoungsters
started by the BPP in December 2009, and
its works and events. ZYNG has over 4,000
members, ranging in age from 16 to 40
years. In the two years of its existence, it has
organised 50 events including three speed
dating meets, which has resulted in quite a
few successful matches being made.
Poverty Amelioration Scheme
A contribution of R6 lakh each was received
from Mr. Areez Khambatta and the BPP.
Between January 2010 and March 2012, the
scheme has given aid to 79 Parsis, totalling
R7,45,085.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of FPZAI Executive
Council will be held at Jabalpur in the last
quarter of 2012.
Acknowledgement
A sumptuous lunch and snacks on both
February 11 and 12, 2012, were provided by
Mr. Jimmy Gadiwalla. The sound system and
video recording was done by Farhad Cooper
of Samsons. Photographs courtesy Parsiana.
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The BPP Review 23
March 2012
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The Office Bearers of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India
President
Dinshaw Mehta
Vice Presidents
Mancher Mubarakai
West Zone A
Darayas Master
West Zone B
Honorary Secretaries
Khojeste Mistree
Pervez Mehta
Areez Khambatta
West Zone B
Kerfegar Antia
South Zone
Honorary Treasurers
Yazdi Desai
The BPP Review 24
March 2012
Merwan Irani
Tehmton Anklesaria
North Zone
Executive Secretary
Arnavaz Mistry