There may be now fewer Zoroastrian Iranis in Bombay, not because their numbers have dwindled but because they are opting to change their ‘Irani’ surname. Rather than be mistaken for Muslim Iranis in the strife torn, suspicion ridden global scenario, nearly one-fifth have chosen to be identified with their ancestors’ place of origin like Arestani, Aresh, Khusroshahi, mentions the president of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman (IZA) Mehrwan Irani who has not adopted a new surname but opted to use his father’s name as his son’s surname.
The confusion last year as to whether ‘Bharatiya Irani’ as listed in the Government Gazette notification of 2005 was to classify as ‘nomadic tribe’ has been resolved with the government declaring that the listing applied only to the Muslim Iranis. Thus Zoroastrian Iranis can no longer hope for reservation in state government jobs and educational institutions which is the prerogative of a ‘nomadic tribe.’
Mehrwan Irani : community awarenness
Kinship and fraternity is of importance to the Iranis and yet the IZA decided that beginning 2007 the traditional Navroz gahanbar which they host will be discontinued. "Gahanbars are meant to create community awareness… to bring the rich and poor together and treat everyone on par,” mentions Irani. But when it was brought to their notice that the free passes which they distribute to all — including the staff of Doongerwadi and the senior residents of the Parukh Dharamshalla — were being misused and liquor was reportedly unauthorizedly being consumed at the venue, the working committee decided that in the face of such "compelling reasons,” they could not continue with the gahanbar celebration on March 21 where they invariably invite members of the Iranian consulate. The Navroz evening entertainment at the Framjee Cawasjee Institute hall will however continue. A rethink on the issue convinced the organizers that the two-and-a-half lakh rupees that they annually expend to feed nearly three-and-a-half thousand Zoroastrians can be better utilized in the service of the community.
Giving alms for educational and medical purposes as also for relief of poverty has been a regular feature at IZA. "I’ll use my experience to give doles to the right person,” announces Khodadad Irani (better known as Khodu), the eldest of the three Irani brothers who started the Western India Bakers’ Private Limited (Wibs), best known for their packaged loaves of bread and buns. He joined the working committee just a year ago. He firmly believes that funds should be distributed such that "there is a growth in the middle class and not only to sustain the poor. Earlier we would give grants only for those pursuing their graduation studies but now we extend it even for vocational pursuits” like a course in hairdressing. After all, a beautician or hairdresser can easily generate employment for two or three others, he points out.
IZA’s annual income of Rs 22 lakhs from their grassland at Palghar as also the diminishing returns on their investments is used to aid the indigent and needy Zoroastrians directly or it is routed through other trusts and funds. The litigation against the IZA and the government over ceding 449 acres of the trust land to the government being yet pending in court, the matter remains unresolved.
In the month of May, the IZA will be joining hands with Jimmy Mistry, founder of Parsi Resource Group, who has plans to showcase Iranian history and culture through a Persian festival he is organizing.
In earlier days IZA would help out Iranians in the motherland. But not any more and in fact even the land they owned in Tehran was donated to the Tehran Anjuman so that they could concentrate on their activities primarily in and around Bombay. On a rare occasion when some genuinely poor Zoroastrian needs to visit Iran, the IZA requests the consulate to give a discount in visa fees but the Iranis now settled in India or those planning to travel abroad prefer not to jeopardize their prospects of obtaining a US/Canadian visa. (After the September 11 act of terrorism which has caused every Muslim to be viewed as a threat, Iranis prefer to forego a visit to Iran lest any Iranian stamp on their passport arouse suspicion in the American mind.)
To maintain cordial relations with the Iranian consulate they present flowers to the consul general every Jamshedi Navroz and invariably tie up with them in felicitating visiting Iranian dignitaries. The consulate expresses solidarity by assisting IZA when their members in Iran need help with visas or admissions to educational institutions, notes Mehrwan.
According to the IZA constitution there is a 49-member general committee and 35-member working committee which governs the activities of this Anjuman. Twenty-eight seats are reserved for representatives of 29 villages of Iran. (Depending on the size of the village and its Zoroastrian population, a seat is determined. So while two small villages may have to share a seat, another large village may get more than one seat.) A further five seats are set aside for Bombay representatives. The voice of the seven trustees as also the patrons and benefactors gets to be heard on the committees too. Their office bearers are elected for a seven-year term. If a member marries outside the community, as per the IZA constitution, his membership ceases, Mehrwan gives the details. He was brought in nearly 15 years ago by his father-in-law Jamshed Arestani when they wanted "new josh, new loi (fresh vigor and blood)” on the board. Rather than face acrimony, he says he would prefer to use his energies to run his business Olympia, a Hindustan Petroleum gas agency in Bombay.
"We are a conservative, orthodox lot,” maintains Khodu Irani. The popularity of Dari as the spoken language among Iranis is waning for the majority have picked up Gujarati when conversing with their Parsi cousins. Parents do not mind if their children cannot speak Dari but they insist that their children learn Gujarati so that they can at least read their prayers from the Khordeh Avesta. The intercommunity marriage statistics among Iranis must be about five percent, guesstimates Mehrwan. Whilst earlier both spouses would be Iranis, presently there are many Irani-Parsi marriages, points out Khodu. "We have brainwashed our kids,” says Mehrwan. His 24-year-old son is pursuing his studies abroad and whenever he is in Bombay on vacation he has to daily listen to his father impressing upon him the importance of getting married to a Zoroastrian, candidly admits Mehrwan. But for those Iranis who have taken up residence overseas, the second generation may look beyond the community to find marriage partners, they realize.
To get their Kadmi prayers recited they patronize the Dadysett Agiary and Atash Behram as also the Banaji Atash Behram where priests from the Behramkamdin and Nalladaroo families officiate. Actually the Saher Agiary at Breach Candy, Vachaghandhy Agiary at Hughes Road, Ashburner Agiary at Grant Road and the Patel Agiary at Mazagaon are considered Kadmi too. How different are the Kadmi and Shahenshahi prayers and rituals? "Just listen to an Irani pray the Yatha and Ashem and you will know,” explains Khodu. Muktad prayers are invariably held for the first year, generally continued for five-seven years, and occasionally, like in the case of Khodu’s father may not stop even after 33 years.
"It’s the most solemnized way of disposal. Of course one has to continue with dakhmenashini,” asserts Khodu believing that is the sentiment amongst the majority of Iranis. On a rare occasion "koi khopri nikli aavé (some madcap may emerge) who may want cremation,” says Mehrwan.
The task before the present committee is to ensure that there is amity amongst the members. "Misunderstanding is bound to happen in any house,” declares Khodu, adding, "I will use my goodwill to bring peace in the community.”