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The ballots for a secret vote on who favored or opposed changing the registered office of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) had been distributed. FPZAI president and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Yazdi Desai justified the secrecy stating while two representatives of an anjuman could attend the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) only one was permitted to vote. But in the past even when more than two delegates have attended executive council (EC) and annual general meetings (AGM) where only one vote per anjuman is valid, the vote has always been by a show of hands. But Desai, possibly fearing his supporters may not want their leanings for breaking up the 40-year-old Federation known publicly, called for a written ballot. He was confident the EGM convened on May 5 at the Banaji Atash Behram Hall was packed with enough of his south Gujarat loyalists and handpicked FPZAI office bearers to win. And judging by the applause that greeted pro-Desai side comments as versus those opposed, he may have been right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But several factors caused the hardheaded approach to change and a compromise to be reached. First the stiff and vocal opposition from two of his five BPP co-trustees present, Noshir Dadrawala and Kersi Randeria. The Desai camp had hired four bouncers, two burly men and two stocky women dressed in blue safari suits to bar entry to the five BPP trustees, the other three being Armaity Tirandaz, Zarir Bhathena and Viraf Mehta as well as any other representatives who had not submitted a letter authorizing them to attend. Even the Calicut anjuman president and former South Zone vice president Darius Marshall who had especially come to Bombay for the meet was turned away. He had told Parsiana when initially denied entry that he had come all the way from Kerala but was not allowed in even as an observer. "I won’t vote,” he had assured Desai. But the president noted that if he made an exception for him he would have to do it for others as well. Marshall then told Parsiana he wondered whether it was worth continuing as a  member in the FPZAI.
The submission of an authorization letter entitling the representative to attend is mandatory for all anjumans, but on several occasions the rule was observed in the breach and never applied to the BPP trustees, to Parsiana’s knowledge. Dadrawala told Parsiana that no letter was asked from, nor submitted, by the five.
A few minutes before the start of the meeting at 11 a.m. there was no sign of the five BPP  trustees. But Parsiana was informed some were standing at the Atash Behram compound gate. When Parsiana approached them to find out why they were waiting there, they said they wanted to enter as a group and were awaiting Dadrawala’s arrival. BPP  trustee Tirandaz told Parsiana that if any one of the lady bouncers so much as touched her she would point out she was a senior citizen, making them thus aware of the consequences of manhandling her. A few minutes before 11, the four ventured forth. Dadrawala followed a few minutes later.
At the registration desk Randeria berated a videographer, inquiring of him with whose authority he was filming the event. The four signed the attendance register and started ascending the steps to the Hall. The bouncers looked on but did not attempt to stop them. Dadrawala entered a few minutes later and straightaway climbed the steps without signing the register.
An obstacle to Desai’s move to usurp all authority in the Federation came from long-time and bitter rival former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta. Dinshaw attended as a trustee of the Bardoli anjuman. His approach was different from the precedent of the Desais/Khojeste Mistree and others of the World  Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshti (WAPIZ) fame who though they were not trustees nor members of any anjumans used to attend earlier FPZAI meets as representatives of various sympathetic anjumans such as Belgaum, Jabalpur, Badnera, Amravati and even Panchgani. That malpractice was put to an end when  the FPZAI rules and regulations were last amended to restrict attendance to trustees and residents (past and present of an anjuman).
Earlier when FPZAI joint honorary secretary and Desai loyalist Farrokh Rustomji spoke on the phone to Bardoli anjuman trustee and honorary secretary, Pervez Mehta inquiring about the veracity of Dinshaw’s appointment, Pervez responded by email, "You cannot ask me to produce proof of appointment of Dinshaw Mehta as a trustee of the Bardoli Jarthosti Anjuman. It is the internal matter of our anjuman and you as the joint secretary of the FPZAI have no authority to interfere in our anjuman’s internal matters.
"It appears that you, your president and his henchmen have developed cold feet on knowing that Dinshaw Mehta is going to attend the FPZAI meeting, as all your lies and misinformation will be exposed by Dinshaw.
"Please let us know whether you have asked all other anjumans also to provide such information as we know that many persons who used to attend the FPZAI meetings as representatives of certain anjumans are going to attend this meeting as trustees/representatives of some other anjumans.” He noted he was out of Bardoli and would return on June 1, at which time he would email Rustomji the AGM minutes confirming Dinshaw’s appointment. Pervez was a former joint honorary secretary of the FPZAI and is well versed with the rules of the body.
When Rustomji again asked for copies of the Bardoli AGM minutes and the change report, Dinshaw replied, "In the first place you have no right to ask for AGM minutes of an independent anjuman. It is tantamount to interfering in the internal functioning of an anjuman which you or FPZAI have no right to do. Though a change report has been filed you have no right to ask even for this copy under the constitution of the FPZAI. And assuming otherwise, you have legal remedies to take action if I am not lawfully appointed as a trustee.
"First tell your own president, whose mouthpiece you seem to be, whether he has filed a change report of his own colleague trustee Xerxes Dastur as yet, though he was elected a trustee on July 4, 2018 and continues to function as a trustee without anyone questioning his bona fides. A change report has not yet been filed even after 12 months.”  
Dinshaw who had arrived at the venue an hour earlier had also initially refused to sign the register but was persuaded to do so. Despite opposition from Desai, Dinshaw distributed copies of the fortnightly Parsi Junction (PJ) of May 5, 2019 published by his confidant Pervez Driver. The WAPIZ Page printed in The Free Press Journal of May 4, 2019 was also distributed. Desai is the president of WAPIZ.
Though the stage was set for a showdown, everyone kept the peace, barring a few heated exchanges. After the customary opening remarks and a benediction by Dastur Khurshed  Dastoor, Desai noted, "No seats had been allotted to the  trustees of the BPP as they had not sent any (authority) letter unlike the other anjumans, (however) all have come in  so to avoid confrontation we have allowed... and welcomed them.”
Randeria noted, "For the first time in the FPZAI we don’t have a seat...The BPP has paid for the (hiring of) the Banaji Atash Behram Hall.”
Desai observed that for years the BPP was a "big brother” to the FPZAI but now acted as a "step brother.” To which Dadrawala retorted, "the response is due to your behavior.”
 [Commenting on The Parsee Voice report which claimed that Dadrawala and Randeria were "at their belligerent best” at the meet, Dadrawala responded, "To spite his colleagues YD (Desai) did not even have tables and chairs for (us). It was left to me to pick up chairs lying on the side and make my senior trustees Armaity and Zarir sit in the wings and literally assert my right as Jt (Hon) Sec of FPZAI to also sit in the wings...We were belligerent but also bold enough to take on the wrong. A hall full of brainwashed people,  

bouncers...they tried it all...insult, spite.”]
Delhi Parsi Anjuman trustee Adil Nargolwala termed the presence of the bouncers "regrettable” as well as the manner in which the meet started. He urged the warring BPP trustees to "let the meet begin.”
 "We are all civilized human beings,” said Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat chairman Brig Jahangir Anklesaria (retd). "While the world puts the Parsi community on a pedestal, why are we coming to this level?...We should proceed in the spirit of Zoroastrianism.”
Noting the differences between Desai and his six co-trustees, Pervez Irani of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman inquired, "If the other trustees were not consulted, how could you call this meeting?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desai stated as president of the FPZAI he could do so. Randeria retorted, "Desai does everything without consulting his co-trustees, including” temporarily changing the FPZAI address to his residence. In the notice for the meeting sent out by Rustomji, anjumans were instructed to address all FPZAI correspondence to Desai’s residential address at Rustom Baug. The agenda notice carried Desai’s address, a mobile number and the FPZAI secretary’s email.
The other proposals included barring five of the six BPP trustees from the FPZAI, altering the FPZAI rules and regulations, "accept(ing) the resignation of Dadrawala as honorary secretary which he submitted via his email dated 18/09/2017,” reconstituting the Defunct Anjumans Committee (DAC) and transferring the defunct anjumans monies from the BPP to the Federation. Desai and his followers alleged that payments were being withheld and the trustees were rude in their discussions with the DAC members. Dadrawala who had subsequently withdrawn his resignation, said barring one payment to FPZAI legal retainer Manek Kalyaniwalla, all other payments had been made. There were some unanswered queries pertaining to that payment, he stated.
Randeria noted the problem arose when he asked for copies of emails regarding the defunct anjumans to be copied to him. Desai explained that the reason for not complying was that the correspondence would then be leaked to others.
Desai claimed the genesis of the differences concerned the issue of who would pay for the FPZAI intervention in the Originating Summons filed by two Calcutta ladies over who had the right to enter the local fire temple. Dadrawala, Randeria and Bhathena opposed intervention while Desai, Tirandaz and Viraf favored the move, said Desai. Dadrawala resigned from the FPZAI honorary secretaryship in response to that vote, Desai claimed. When payment from the defunct anjuman account was mooted, the trouble erupted, he alleged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The item on the agenda regarding the change in the FPZAI’s registered address did not mention  the new address. A slip of paper distributed at the meeting showed the address to be on the "first floor, rear side” of the Framjee Cawasjee Institute (FCI) building at Dhobi Talao. The WAPIZ office is located on the second floor of the building where, Randeria alleged, Desai held his meetings pertaining to the Federation so as to preclude the presence of his co-trustees.
As regards item four in the agenda calling for "consideration and approval of the proposed amendments to the rules and regulations” of the once all-India body, Dinshaw pointed out the Charity Commissioner (CC) had rejected the application. In its May 5 issue, PJ stated, "because of non-compliance...the said change report has been rejected with liberty to file fresh application...In view of rejection...the same becomes null and void...according to original Rule 26...only the EC can convene an EGM, and not the honorary secretary.” The write-up therefore claimed the meeting had been "illegally convened...and has to be cancelled.” Dadrawala also opined the meeting was "not convened legally.”
But Desai countered the changes had been approved by the FPZAI EC and they could go ahead. "I have a legal opinion,” the president stated.
Nargolwala observed, "The BPP is a divided house. The chairman cannot (carry) his trustees with him.” Pareecheher Daviervala urged, "Let us hear both sides,” while North Zone vice president Tehmton Anklesaria added, "Let us work together.”
Desai alleged the interruptions by Dadrawala and especially Randeria which were being displayed at the meet, also "mess up the BPP meetings.”
Dinshaw stated that as no AGM had been called for over two years, the present office bearers’ terms were "all over.” Randeria added, "If no AGM is held they will continue in perpetuity.” Turning to Rustomji he inquired, "How many times have I inquired when the AGM and EC meetings will be called? About a dozen times?”
Rustomji confirmed Randeria had inquired and stated two anjumans, Panchgani and Ahmedabad had agreed to host meets, but did not. He wanted to know if Randeria had put the same question to Dadrawala who was/is honorary secretary. Dadrawala retorted he "was not included in any discussion about the meetings. I was never included in your coterie of people.” Randeria observed that the Ahmedabad meeting in 2017 did not materialize due to "some miscommunication.” He wanted to know why the matter had not been clarified.
Once again commenting on the interjections by his two colleagues, Desai lamented, "This is why the BPP has done nothing in the past two-and-a-half years.” To which Dadrawala added, "Under the leadership of this great man.”
Randeria countered that despite the financial crunch at the BPP, monies had been raised for the Gamadia Hostel repairs and for Doongerwadi. "This board has housed families...chasniwallas” and other disadvantaged people.
South Zone vice president Cmde Medioma Bhada (retd) told the gathering present that the FPZAI did not "need the big brotherhood of the BPP... working conditions were not conducive… Trust me, we will manage it.” 
Nargolwala, however, noted the BPP was "influential and powerful.” The present chairman "can’t get along with his board, can’t carry his people with him” but new chairmen would come in time and hence divorcing the BPP from the FPZAI was not in the interest of either body.
When Desai alleged that those opposing the split had been brainwashed, Nargolwala responded that his father, Shiavax, had been a founding president of the Federation and that he himself had been mentored by the late Keki Gandhi, a former joint honorary secretary of the FPZAI. "Don’t think I can be brainwashed that easily.”
Randeria alleged that the delegates had been coerced to toe the WAPIZ line. "If you do not vote the way we want, it will be difficult for you,” they had been warned. Some delegates had confided in him privately that they were threatened, "Don’t you dare go against us.” The delegates voiced their apprehension to him, "You don’t know what they will do” to us. Randeria urged the Desai loyalists, "Do not vote because you wear a topi and because you are a WAPIZ member.” Vote on merit.
By expelling the BPP or "putting it in cold storage...You will be throwing out the largest body voted to office by the single largest Parsi community. Instead of throwing the BPP out, throw the chairman out,” advised Randeria. "One man (Desai) wants to be God.”
Randeria said he was never rude to DAC member Bhada. "Yes, I asked questions,” whether property was encroached on or not. When the BPP staff was told to hand over cheque books and other financial documents to the DAC, they rightly refused saying they were not authorized to do so as they would be held responsible for the safekeeping of funds.
Observing the acrimonious exchanges, Dastoor bemoaned, "My prayers have gone to waste.” If the community did not "look after what our forefathers have left us,” if we don’t utilize the assets, "what are we going to pass on to our next generation? In the next five to 10 years all property will be lost.” He noted in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh the government wanted to take over valuable land allotted for residential use to the Sikhs 200 years ago. The Supreme Court of India referred the matter to the National Commission for Minorities of which Dastoor is the Zoroastrian nominee. "If the Sikhs who number 3,00,00,000 in India are facing this problem, imagine (the fate of) Parsis with a population of 50,000 fighting over property. Trustees should look after their (assets). If you don’t,” no one else can. "If trustees cannot manage property they should dispose it off or transfer it or at least do something. Don’t fight.” He questioned why the FPZAI office was being shifted to private property. "Why can’t another anjuman use their address?” (Moving the office out of Bombay may be legally difficult — editors.)
  Dastoor cited the example of Khergam where the trustees had not acted to safeguard  property to which the mercurial Khergam delegate Pervez Khergamwalla got up and yelled that Dastoor was "a liar.” Khergamwalla, a staunch WAPIZ supporter, was immediately berated by Jahangir Anklesaria and Dadrawala who darted from their seats and stood in front of him demanding he apologize. Dastoor explained the trustees had approached him and he had asked them to write to him which they had not. Khergamwalla then apologized to which Dastoor graciously replied, "It’s all right.”
Valsad chairman and West Zone B vice president Sam Chothia who heads the DAC  clarified some details about the defunct anjuman properties in Neemuch. There was confusion over the value of a property which some believed was worth 40 crore rupees while in actuality that was the value of all the  community property in the town, he explained.
Tehmton Anklesaria assured the gathering "not one paisa had been taken” unofficially. There were 17 anjumans in his zone and "no transactions have taken place.” In order to limit misunderstandings, he urged "the Federation should meet more often.” Randeria clarified he had "not alleged any scam. I am not saying Sam Chothia is a chor (thief). I always say Yazdi Desai is an honest person.” And he added, charitable (Desai and his wife Anahita have donated Rs 10,00,000 for repairs to the BPP managed Godavara Agiary in the Fort area).
Desai alleged the BPP trustees did not want any funds to accrue to the FPZAI because it was an orthodox body. Randeria noted Desai wanted to use money from sale of the Dharwar property for the Calcutta litigation. "Do not make this an orthodox versus liberal issue.”
Randeria stressed the need to do everything legally. By paying someone to get the work done anyhow was not the right approach. "We are the Parsi community...Protect the integrity of the community.”
Irani wanted to know who would bear the cost of the proposed FPZAI office rent and said staff expenses that will accrue. Desai replied the rent would be "less than Rs 10,000,” as the FCI trustees were known to them. Dinshaw and Dadrawala pointed out that WAPIZ founder trustees Homi Ranina and Hoshang Wania were on the FCI board of trustees. "Will the FPZAI records be safe?” Irani queried. "If the BPP trustees are not getting along should we continue as a Federation?”
Nargolwala commented that Desai and his supporters were "throwing out 35 years of tradition by divorcing the BPP from the Federation.”
 "What is the solution?” asked the Mandvi representative Pervez Mandviwala.
Nargolwala recommended the BPP should go back, sit together, resolve their differences and "speak with one voice.” Dastoor endorsed the suggestion. "Let us meet in the boardroom and solve the problem.” He noted trustees come and go but the institutions must continue.
Randeria remarked if the FPZAI met more often there would be an opportunity to "resolve” issues. "The meetings have not been called for two years...”
Nargolwala: "Don’t ask for a vote today. (We/you) don’t want to be termed as the people who broke the Federation. Call a small group” to discuss the matter.
Dastoor: "We must resolve the issue in the BPP office.”
Randeria: "Have a meeting every three months.”
Tehmton: "we can hold it every month. Four of the five VPs (vice presidents) are in Bombay” and south Gujarat.
   All the items on the agenda barring the discussion on the draft trust deed of the Global Council of Zoroastrian Trust (GCZT) were kept in abeyance. Members wanted to know who the beneficiaries of the Trust formed by the Global Working Group would be, whether money would be given to non-Parsis, who was defined as a Parsi Zoroastrian and so on. The purpose of the Trust is basically to facilitate the transfer of funds from abroad to India as the Trust would have a Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) certificate. As objections were raised to including non-Parsis among the beneficiaries to avail of tax concessions, as donors would largely be other trusts, the tax exemption would not be of significance so the Trust would exclude them. 
The GCZT is not a substitute for a Zoroastrian world body, but a supplement to it. At the last GWG meet in Bombay on December 21, 2018 the delegates made it clear they were not interested in a Bombay based trust with local trustees deciding on global matters. In addition, whether the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America can legally give funds to a trust that discriminates on the basis of race is uncertain.
The next EC and AGM of the FPZAI is scheduled for July 20 and 21 in Ahmedabad.