Noted solicitor and author Berjis Desai (pictured) summarized his reasons for offering his candidature for March 14, 2021 trusteeship elections to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) with a ditty. "When the Light is so dim/ And the Times appear grim/ If all good men just stand by and cry/ The Lord will ask, why you did not try?” he quoted in a letter to the community dated January 21.
Architect of the "infamous scheme of elections” (that provided adult franchise) in 2008, Desai stated that when he was part of the core committee set up last year to assist the Punchayet trustees, he realized that "it was necessary to shun one’s reluctance to get embroiled in so-called ‘Parsi politics’ and the oft-referred ‘mess,’ in order to preserve our community assets and heritage.” He stated that "several critical actions to safeguard and create precious community resources can be initiated only if one is vested with the legal capacity of a trustee, and not from outside.”
Noting that "in the last few months, the bitterness and rancor in the BPP has escalated significantly,” Desai stated that with "my long relationship with strong personalities on both sides, I do believe that I can at least minimize the stridency in the BPP and forge a consensus on most matters.” He was referring to kingmakers Dinshaw Mehta, a former BPP chairman and Kersi Randeria, sitting BPP trustee. "What finally made up my mind were the two sad-circumstanced vacancies, making it even more imperative to restore balance and peace.” Previous chairman Yazdi Desai had resigned in December 2020 on account of ill health and trustee Zarir Bhathena passed away in June last year, occasioning an election for the two seats.
"I am confident that Anahita (Desai) will make an optimal trustee.” Wife of Yazdi, the noted social worker is a co-contestant. "The presence of two ladies including the chairperson (Armaity Tirandaz), will soothe the charged atmosphere in the board room. Women have more emotional intelligence than their testosterone oozing counterparts.” Appealing to community members to cast their first vote for Anahita, Berjis stated that he would "not directly or indirectly” canvass votes. "Nor will I react to happy or sad or angry or nice messages on the social media,” he noted. But, well-wishers have urged him to meet or communicate with voters.
The jurist stated, "If appointed, I shall give myself three years to see if I have been able to value add. If not, I shall make way for a more suitable person. In any event, when I turn 70, after a little more than five years, I shall leave, in keeping with the principle that (attaining the age of) 70 ought to be a cut-off date.”
The solicitor listed his priorities as trustee. "We must preserve our uniqueness at any cost and not be swamped. Preserving and protecting our fire temples and Towers of Silence has become a primary passion for me. Rather late in life, I have a strong inner conviction that our traditional values have to be preserved. I shall not deviate in the slightest from any time-honored practice concerning our religious way of life.
"It is my dream, however utopian it sounds, that if we can create a fund to finance a mini Parsi welfare state, which provides attractive subsidies from cradle to grave, we will succeed in increasing Parsi births and reverse the demographic decline. The BPP can be that engine to spearhead this endeavor.
"My decision making on every issue… will be based purely on merits, devoid of any bias, and irrespective of what any group or individual wants. Hopefully, we shall stop talking the language of ‘majority and minority’ and ‘factions and groups’ in the board of trustees. Lastly, we shall endeavor that the administration of the BPP becomes more generous, gentler and user friendly to the beneficiaries and the tenants.
"Every trustee is a servant of the community. I consider myself on par with our Doongerwadi workers and will act as a humble instrument of the Cosmic,” he stated. "Humility, compassion and annihilation of the ego is the need of the hour,” noted Berjis.
Berjis stated that his candidature was proposed by BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala and seconded by Dadar-based social worker Mithoo Jesia. In a WhatsApp message of January 21, Dadrawala explained that "I have against advice and criticism from those close to me proposed Berjis Desai’s candidature… he will be a balancing force between the ‘warring parties’… He will also bring his vast legal acumen to the BPP board… He is a person of cool and calm temperament…In Berjis I see hope for the future (of) BPP.
"Anahita Desai too will be good for the BPP. It would be best if these two could be allowed by the community to come in as consensus candidates and save BPP election expenditure of Rs 40 lakhs as also laundry expenditure of washing dirty linen,” stated Dadrawala.
Two other candidates known to have filed their nominations till the time of going to press are Farhanaz Polad Irani, a retired airline employee, and educationist Dr Zuleika Homavazir.