The 340-year-old Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) is going through a crisis of leadership. In earlier years it had been governed by trustees referred to as akabars, but since 2008 we have adopted a democratic system of electing the trustees through adult franchise which, contrary to expectations, has created problems, chaos and conflicts in the community.
A code of conduct for the election has not yet been introduced; the voluntary code of conduct is a mockery as it lacks the power to punish lawbreakers or debar candidates using unlawful practices. When the trustees do not see eye to eye, how can we expect them to do any constructive work? As there is still time for the elections, let us first legalize a code of conduct for free and fair elections.
In an enlightened community like ours there is no dearth of talent, skills and abilities, but the image of the BPP has been so tarnished that worthy candidates are unwilling to enter.
Harmony can prevail only if the trustees have a common agenda in the best interest of the community. Trustees are expected to protect the funds, properties and estates of the trust, avoid wasteful expenditure and to establish goodwill in the community.
Despite the many flaws, we cannot do away with elections, but surely we can bring about radical reforms in the system? Wise and efficient stalwarts in our community should take up the challenge of streamlining the system by effecting changes and inviting worthy candidates.
Only a team of sincere, dedicated, competent trustees working in harmony can amicably solve the community’s problems. All along we considered orthodoxy as the main criterion for trusteeship and deemed reformists as anti-religion. This has hampered our progress and development, and created the conflicts that we experience today.
Apart from the lack of coordination, transparency and accountability there is too much interference in religious matters. The fruitless litigations over religious matters have eaten into the coffers of the BPP and damaged its reputation. The Zoroastrian religion gives us the right and freedom to choose wisely and with responsibility and respect the rights of others. Today we cannot practice our religion in the manner we wish to. We have to move forward, preserving our culture and traditions while doing away with outdated dogmas that are passed off as religion. PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com