Following the resignation of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Yazdi Desai on December 23, 2020 citing ill health, his wife and well-known social worker Anahita Desai confirmed she will be contesting the vacancy. Chief executive officer of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ), Anahita had contested twice before and lost majorly because voters did not favor a husband-wife duo serving on the BPP board simultaneously. With Yazdi stepping down, and the assurance not to oppose her candidature by BPP trustee Kersi Randeria’s camp, as well as by former chairman Dinshaw Mehta, she is expected to easily win the seat.
An earlier vacancy caused by the death of BPP trustee Zarir Bhathena in June 2020 will also be up for election. "It would be best to conduct elections on Sunday, March 14, 2021 as Sunday 21 is Jamshedi Navroz and hence not a good choice, and declare the schedule and start the process without further delay,” BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala told Parsiana on December 27. This date was unanimously agreed at a meeting on December 29.
Yazdi Desai (l) and Armaity Tirandaz Photos: Jasmine D. Driver
At the same meeting, BPP trustee Armaity Tirandaz was unanimously appointed the next chairwoman of the Punchayet as she is the senior most trustee on the board after Yazdi. The first woman to occupy the chair was Lady Hirabai Jehangir. Tirandaz becomes the second.
Yazdi tendered his resignation from the Punchayet voicing concerns about his health "following a stroke in April this year "from which I am yet to recover fully,” in a letter dated December 23 sent to his co-trustees. "To fast-track my full recovery there are certain restrictions and advisories given by my doctors, primary among them being the necessity to avoid all stress…
"Another factor that has prompted me, after due consideration, to tender by resignation at this time is that the doctors have indicated that the time frame for my full recovery is uncertain. It is unfair to the community to leave my seat vacant and my duties unattended for an uncertain period of time… Since an election for the post of one BPP trustee is to be held in February/March 2021 owing to the demise of my colleague trustee Zarir Bhathena, and as every election costs the community a lot of money, I think it is my duty to be prudent and hand in my resignation as chairman/trustee from the office of BPP,” wrote Yazdi.
"In the course of one’s life, hard and painful decisions have to be taken. This is the most painful decision I have had to take, as for nearly 20 years my life has revolved around my community and the Punchayet. I understand the full weight of my responsibilities towards my community and it is with this in mind that I am hereby submitting my resignation with immediate effect.
"It will always remain a matter of regret that I am tendering my resignation from the trusteeship of BPP when there was so much more I wanted done for our community through the BPP.
"It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Parsi Irani Zarathushti community and I could not have done it without the support and dedication of my wife Anahita, whom I see as a fearless warrior for the good,” his letter stated.