I agree with your editorial "The silent seven” (Parsiana, April 21-May 6, 2025) about the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (pictured below) not responding to your queries regarding their progress during the current tenure.
Those elected to public office (whether in India or in any other country following democratic principles) take an oath of office that they will serve the public. Public officials are therefore accountable and duty bound to answer questions and comments from those whom they serve.
MANECK BHUJWALA
Huntingdon Beach, California, USA
mbhujwala@socal.rr.com
In your editorial "The silent seven” (Parsiana, April 21-May 6, 2025), you quoted from your letter to the trustees: "The Bombay Parsi Punchayet struggles to meet its financial commitments and is involved in litigation with at least one of its labor unions. Plans to monetize some of your assets have been repeatedly stated without any specifics being cited, permissions obtained, notices being published, or deadlines being stated.”
I feel it would help to avoid things which can cause resentment so that the person feels positive and responsive. Resentment can result in retaliation or a "don’t care” reaction.
The press may have an obligation to inform the public of happenings and need to report on them but generally speaking a positive relationship makes communication meaningful. SUNNU GOLWALLA
Karachi, Pakistan
sunnu.golwalla@gmail.com
The editors response:
All seven trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet when campaigning for trusteeship committed to keep the community regularly updated on developments and to hold public meetings. They reneged on both promises. Parsiana’s questionnaire was to provide them with an opportunity to state in their own words, jointly or individually, what they had accomplished after almost three years in office. Their response was total silence. Not even a line to state they would or they would not be responding. Our approach was positive. Theirs was not.