Even though the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a reputation for being antagonistic towards minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, the government has a soft spot for the Parsis. That was evident at a meeting the new minister for minority affairs Smriti Irani had with community anjuman representatives on October 30, 2022 at the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) (see, "Yes! Minister," pg 24). Her predecessors in the earlier Congress led government had initiated the Jiyo Parsi scheme in collaboration with the New Delhi based Parzor Foundation. The ministry of minority affairs (MOMA) under the BJP government thoughtfully continued and encouraged the endeavor.
When noted thespian Yazdi Karanjia extolled the virtues of Modi in his speech, instead of the thunderous applause one might have expected, the clapping was polite and brief. When Parsiana featured Irani in past issues, one irate reader inquired why we were pandering to the right wing, Hindu party. The critic acknowledged that MOMA may be handing out largesse to the community but did not appear to be aware of Irani’s ties by marriage to the community. Irani is wed to Dahanu agriculturalist Zubin Irani and is, as she noted, a mother to three Parsi children. The 46-year-old tall and statuesque politician has a Punjabi and Maharashtrian heritage from her father’s side and Bengali from her mother’s. She studied at a school run by Catholic nuns and can speak English, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and Punjabi. "She has been a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, the parent body of the BJP) from childhood," noted Wikipedia. She was elected to the Indian parliament in 2019 from Amethi defeating a Parsi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the grandson of Indira and Feroze Gandhi.
Perhaps sensing the possible anti- pathy among a segment of the population, Irani prefaced her talk stating her ministry was not a policy-making body but concerned with implementation.
The causes she chose to support at the Sunday morning meet concerned language, culture and the well-being of the community. Parzor Foundation under the stewardship of academician and activist Dr Shernaz Cama has been trying to record, and thereby preserve, Parsi customs, reet rivaj (traditions), oral history. This is in addition to efforts to increase the Parsi population. While trying to induce Parsis to have more babies may be a hopeless endeavor, the likelihood of preserving our traditions is more promising. In this issue of Parsiana we focused on the post pandemic relevance and utilization of Parsi baugs where weddings and navjotes are held (see "Bracing the baugs," pg 44). Will the tradition continue? With barely 25% utilization of baugs, can the income accrued sustain the properties? And if so, for how long? Can they be thrown open for other communities to use rather than remaining unutilized and thereby bereft of funds?
The format of the meeting with Irani did not allow for any discussion of issues. Five speakers informed her and the gathering of their work in the community. The minister noted how the government could assist them. She not only spontaneously pledged a crore of rupees for preserving the Avesta language but also texted the union minister of education regarding an Avesta master’s degree inclusion in the academic curriculum and received a positive reply. She chose to support ventures connected with the language, culture, heritage and welfare of the community. She came across as quick-witted, fast to grasp and articulate. She arrived at the venue 20 minutes before the scheduled session which then began 10 minutes earlier than the planned 10.30 a.m. start. It’s not surprising that at the age of 43 she was the youngest minister in the 2019 union council of ministers.
The meet with Irani had been convened by the Udvada High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor which raised some eyebrows. Why not The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI)? quizzed the Traditional Zarathushtris Mailing List. Dastoor is looked upon with suspicion by some orthodox groups who view his religious leanings as middle-of-the-road to liberal. An earlier attempt by the FPZAI to invite the minister was scuttled by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees who claimed the convenor of the meet, FPZAI honorary secretary and former BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala was not authorized to do so. Dastoor had then phoned and also written to BPP chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz on September 24 requesting her to "arrange for this meeting and announce an early date and venue." That request was not acceded to. Parsiana sent a text to Tirandaz to inquire why. The query was reportedly discussed by the trustees at their November 1, Tuesday board meeting and a "formal" reply was to be sent.
At the lunch following Irani’s session, several of the Gujarat anjuman representatives voiced their anguish at the apparent lack of interest by the BPP in convening an FPZAI meeting. For some reason the trustees appear reluctant to do so. The last FPZAI meet was held over three years ago on July 20 and 21, 2019 in Ahmedabad. After that, FPZAI elections have not been held, nor the accounts presented and passed by the general body or executive council. The trials, tribulations and triumphs of the individual anjumans and their members remain unstated.
How can a community spread all over the country hold together without a functioning all-India body? The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America holds regular meetings. Not to mention North American congresses every two years. If the BPP is too occupied with housing and tenants, they can authorize or encourage other anjumans to take the lead. In 1978, even after the BPP and its allied anjumans withdrew from the Federation, the FPZAI continued to function, largely under the leadership of the astute Delhi Parsi Anjuman president Shiavax Nargolwala (a former Indian Civil Service officer) and the dynamic and artful FPZAI honorary secretary Keki Gandhi. Realizing the limitations of working solo, the BPP eventually rejoined the FPZAI.
A strong bond to the institution and committed leadership can make all the difference. Today the FPZAI is orphaned — unnoticed, unloved and unwanted. Unless some anjumans step in to revive the body, it may, like the Parsis, slip into oblivion.