Parsis engaged in politics outside the community are few and far between but two are making their mark in the Shiv Sena, a once militant Hindu rightwing party founded in 1966 by former cartoonist Bal Thackeray. Activist Parvez Cooper and former Congress supporter Ronnie Bugwadia joined the Sena earlier this year.
Parvez Cooper (l), Ronnie Bugwadia
"They have welcomed me with open arms,” noted Cooper about his induction in January 2021. "I have for a long time taken up civic issues in Colaba… double parking…water problems…they have made me the sort of Colaba face among the community,” the businessman told Parsiana on February 22. Seeing that being an activist "from the outside” was not working out, Cooper said he wanted to be formally inducted into the party cadre.
"There are several issues facing the community… reservation is one such…in educational institutes… for jobs… all this needs to be sorted out…Is the (Bombay Parsi) Punchayet taking this up?... No!” Another area that he feels he can add value is "bringing back vultures to Doongerwadi…. Aaditya Thackeray as environment minister will help.” Due to the "andar andar na jhagda (internal community squabbles),” the youth of the community is suffering, he noted. "There is no clear leader in the community.”
Cooper told Parsiana that there are at least a dozen other community members who are supporters of the party. "More and more people are keen to join up… I will soon organize a very major event that will induct many Parsis into the party… very senior party leaders are expected to attend.” The activist had told mid-day on February 9 that he will "induct at least 50 Parsis” into the party.
Byculla resident and retired service industry professional Bugwadia was inducted into the Shiv Sena as deputy branch head for his ward 210. The social worker is said to have assisted the residents of Rustom Baug and Jer Baug to ease the hardships due to the lockdown. These include arranging for sanitization of baugs, arranging supplies, organizing clearing of drains and the like. He describes himself as "a very influential person,” noting that earlier he was a Congress supporter since 1975.
Reportedly with a view to also woo Gujarati voters, the party has set aside its "Marathi Manoos (Son of the soil)” agenda and coined a new phrase "Mumbai ma jalebi ne fafda, (Chief Minister) Uddhav Thackeray aapda [Bombay has jalebi and fafda (Gujarati snacks) and Uddhav Thackeray is ours)],” reported The Times of India on January 6.