The last issue of Parsiana gave all 15 Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship candidates an opportunity to express their views on issues confronting the community in Bombay (see "Callout to candidates,” Parsiana, May 7-20, 2022). In this issue we have provided an introduction to each of the candidates, alphabetically, based on inputs they have supplied or information we have sourced. The age, where available, has been included.
On May 6, we had sent an email to all candidates requesting them to furnish us their bio data, manifesto and photograph. A reminder was sent out once again on May 11, asking those who had not responded to do so by May 13 for the pages had to be readied for the press by the middle of the month.
The nine candidates who sent us details were: Ervad Xerxes Dastur, Anahita Desai, Tehmtan Dumasia, Dr Zuleika Homavazir, Ervad Farhad Hozdar, Hoshang Jal, Dr Adil Malia, Daara Patel and Armaity Tirandaz. The six who did not respond were Farhanaz Irani, Kaikhushroo Irani, Viraf Mehta, Maharukh Noble, Kersi Randeria and Rumy Zarir.
The write ups on the candidates appear in alphabetical order.
Ervad Xerxes Dastur
52 years. Sitting trustee of the BPP, chairman of the Mumbai Chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, president of the Bombay Parsee Association, among other institutions, the candidate is a practicing chartered accountant. Consulting partner of V. S. Dastur and Company, he describes himself as "an innovative and result oriented professional with hands on global experience in finance, accounting, taxation, etc.”
His key issues for the BPP are to reduce litigation; to free up properties to accommodate youngsters; manage the BPP’s finances in a professional manner; prepare 20-year, 15-year and five-year road maps for the community; bring together community charities; put in place a community health plan to suit the financial status of all; re-develop Dhunbai Wadi, Nowroz Baug and Contractor Baug as well as complete the ownership building in Godrej Baug; re-look at the charity amounts being doled out by the BPP to the poor; assist young married couples by enhancing the amounts given for the second and third child; increase ownership properties which can be given at subsidized rates to youngsters so that those better financially placed can raise mortgages and bring in capital over a period of time.
Anahita Desai
57 years. With a track record of 20 years of working for the well-being of the community, she is the honorary chief executive officer of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis, trustee of the J. D. Amaria Sodwaterwalla Agiary, and of the Atash Behram and Atash Adarian Machi Fund, as well as member of the F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla Ladies Committee. She has been honored in 2017 for commitment to community service by the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India and received the Darabshaw Achievement Award for outstanding service to our community. Being accessible and approachable, she is prepared to devote six to eight hours every day to community work. She has experience of liaising with anjumans all over the country and believes in working towards a solution with pragmatism and without fear or favor.
Tehmtan Dumasia
58 years. Describes himself as a successful businessman, always approachable. He wishes to take further care of abandoned senior citizens, help young unmarried/engaged persons awaiting their turn on the housing list, assist the economically disadvantaged financially/medically when required. He hopes to digitize all records with a unique card number for each Parsi citizen to help maintain census and keep a check on fraudulent claims and housing requests. A website for young couples to encourage early marriage and starting a family, setting up crèches in baugs, encouraging youngsters to take a lead in academics, sports and help them with professional training/sponsorships are his other plans.
Dr Zuleika Homavazir
40 years. Educationist, administrator, academician, she is currently director, internal quality assurance and professor, business administration, ATLAS SkillTech University. With a doctorate and master’s degree in business management as well as commerce, she has received recognition for her contribution to education and social work. Describing herself as a candidate with a strong work ethic, she wishes to see positive results in terms of changes implemented, for which she has worked out a roadmap for the BPP.
Her 10-point agenda includes housing issues with fair and transparent allotment; welfare of priests; care for elders; open door policy with access to periodic updated financial reports; building the future of our youth; timely resolution of community and legal issues; care of corpses on their final journey; safeguarding the dakhmenashini system; protection of the Zoroastrian heritage; financial audit for clarity on assets and liabilities of the BPP. She also proposes to implement an effective tracking and monitoring system of each of the initiatives of the board of trustees.
Ervad Farhad Hozdar
56 years. A practicing chartered accountant with over 30 years’ experience in audit and taxation, he has been providing advisory services to over 20 trusts and community organizations, as well as the Scouts movement. As a founder member of the Godrej Baug Residents Welfare Association in 2003 and currently its president, he has firsthand knowledge of the needs of residents of BPP managed baugs and can bring about right synergies between the various welfare associations and the BPP. As per his manifesto, he hopes the Punchayet can win the trust and confidence of the community with astute leadership, ensure financial stability, approach housing issues respecting the donors’ wishes, use litigation as a last resort, focus on understanding the anxieties of youth and involving them in community issues, furthering education, medical care and welfare.
Farhanaz Irani
61 years. Other than stating that she holds a BCom degree, she did not divulge any information. But a subsequent handbill sent by her states she has 38 plus years of experience in the corporate world in administrative management. "I am single, retired and have no selfish obligations but only to serve the community and succeed. I will be your voice. I will listen, understand and speak your concerns… We will not ignore or drag issues when brought on the table.”
Kaikhushroo Irani
52 years. He is a lawyer who is interested in Parsi politics and intermittently publishes the online newsletter Pol Khol Sachu Bol.
Hoshang Jal
64 years. With 35 years of meritorious service under his belt as an officer in the Indian Revenue Service, he is recipient of the Presidential Award for Specially Distinguished Record of Service. Proficient in the knowledge of law and finance and its legal implications in everyday life, he has administrative and leadership skills. During the Covid-19 pandemic he personally reached out to hundreds of community members at all hours, especially residents of Cusrow Baug where he is joint honorary secretary of the Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League since the past 14 years. His manifesto says his areas of focus are to create a transparent, fair and performance driven work environment at the BPP; protect the privacy of doongerwadi; re-examine ongoing court cases; root for reservation of seats in educational institutions; develop and implement youth-to-senior outreach programs; strengthen baug committees by empowering them to take local level decisions; enforce higher levels of security, hygiene and structural integrity for buildings in baugs.
Dr Adil Malia
62 years. With over 40 years of corporate management experience in India and overseas, he is currently chief executive officer of a business management consultancy called The FIRM. With graduate and postgraduate qualifications in commerce, law and human resource management, he also has a causa honoris doctorate in philosophy. A deep believer in the Zoroastrian religion, his TEDx talk titled "Lessons in management from Zoroastrian ethos” was viewed by over 25,000 people worldwide.
He says he would like to contribute his time and meaningfully channelize his energy for the benefit of the Zoroastrian community by using his knowledge and experience towards the professional management and clean governance of the BPP. This he proposes to achieve by creating an amiable enabling environment between trustees, listening to the voice of the community, nurturing young talent, fostering professionalism, providing insurance and elder care service, protecting our institutions and assets, and building strong faith and fervor for our religion and Zoroastrian values in youth.
Viraf Mehta
45 years. Since the sitting trustee did not respond to Parsiana’s requests for information, we are publishing what had been written about him in the run-up to the 2015 BPP trusteeship election. A BSc in mechanical engineering and MSc in finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology, he is vice president of CLSA, Asia’s leading and longest running independent investment and brokerage group. He was ranked India’s third best trader by the Asia Money polls. A founder of the Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation, he is trustee of the Kapawalla Agiary.
Mehta’s aims in 2015 were: the housing scheme, an All Parsi Directory, Merit Rating List, auction of flats and such information to be made available online for anyone to access. Also, providing information in an open manner to build confidence within the community and make all trustees accountable for their actions.
Maharukh Noble
She shares ideas for the betterment of the BPP in sync with those of chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz as well as trustees Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur. She says she is an independent person with independent thoughts and will do what she feels correct for the community. She claims she is not political but has the capability to serve the community and the only way to do that is by having like-minded individuals on the board.
(Noble’s eligibility to contest is being challenged before the Election Commission.)
Daara Patel
68 years. Secretary general to the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association since the past two decades, he has 44 years’ experience in procurement, contracting, administration and public relations, having worked for leading corporations. He has been past district governor of the Lions Club International, District 3231-A1, and recipient of a clutch of awards for his contribution to the pharmaceutical industry, including corona warrior awards.
Patel hopes to organize regular medical check-up camps in baugs; distribute free medicines and generic medicines at low cost; set up Jan Aushadh medical pharmacies in baugs; provide group insurance for deserving families; set up day care centers for senior citizens with physiotherapy facilities; engage with youth for training and higher positions; train BPP staff to improve efficiency; introduce digitization; address complaints received by email; reduce litigation; provide a quarterly review of goals and objectives; and ensure harmonious relations with fellow trustees.
Kersi Randeria
65 years. The sitting trustee and businessman owner of Parsi Times (PT) who also manages the Jam-e-Jamshed weekly has dwelt at length on his record of six-and-a-half-years as a trustee of the BPP in PT, where he says he has delivered on the promises made to the community and never compromised his principles as a trustee. The initiatives he has "led from the front” and which have brought much relief to the community are housing, raising funds for the trust and addressing the repairs needed at doongerwadi for the dakhmas, bunglis, roads and other structures. Despite his dissent, the BPP continues the auctioning of flats, but 200 houses have been allotted by the board to deserving beneficiaries. He has also raised funds for the repairs and refurbishment of the Gamadia Boys Hostel which was structurally weak and run-down.
Armaity Tirandaz
77 years. Currently the chairwoman of the BPP, she is nodal representative of the Punchayet in the Jiyo Parsi project funded by the Central Government in partnership with the Parzor Foundation. Chairperson of the Ladies Committee of the F. S. Parukh Dharamshala, she also heads the Senior Citizens Group of the Five Gardens, Dadar, Wadala and Matunga, with over 600 members.
A trained physiotherapist, for 13 years she worked with the Jai Vakeel School for the handicapped for outdoor patients (children with mental and physical disabilities) on an honorary basis.
She regularly visits several institutions to volunteer time and services, like Masina Hospital, The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, Gamadia Health Unit, Dosibai Home, Ackworth Leprosy Home, J. J. Parsi Ward, F. S. Parukh Dharamshala, and J. J. Dharamshala. Active in animal welfare she is associated with the Sakarbai Petit Hospital at Parel and has been on the Hospital committee since 1990. She and her family have been feeding more than 30 stray animals in their area every day for the past 25 years.
Having helped her late husband Rustom from the inception of his political career in the 1970s she has stood by him in periods of turmoil and helped him shoulder the responsibilities as a municipal corporator.
Rumy Zarir
46 years. He is chief executive officer of the Zoroastrian Building Fund which manages several housing colonies and standalone buildings in Chikalwadi. He manages matters like interfacing with the government agencies and the charity commissioner’s office, municipal authorities, and maintenance of the properties of the trust all over the city. If elected, he says he will serve community members to solve their problems. As an independent thinker he will respond to the problems of each individual bearing in mind the larger interest of the community. During the pandemic induced lockdown he helped community members to procure daily essentials and was felicitated as one of the 100 most impactful corona warriors. He says he will devote time to visit the baugs and colonies regularly to check on grievances of the residents.