The Udvada Samast Anjuman was brave enough to show Areez Khambatta and his ilk where they belong. Bravo!
WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) has made it a habit to meddle in other people’s affairs, attack selected persons, become self-appointed scholars and defenders of the faith and community. Khambatta disrupted the Sanjan Day function as others of his ilk had done for Meher Master-Moos’ religious ceremony. They want people to accept what they say as gospel truth, and if anybody goes against their diktats they become the enemy. WAPIZ also dictates to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). It is a matter of great regret that a powerful man like BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta should dance to WAPIZ’s tunes and permit them to dictate terms. An official who is an important cog in the wheel said that Mehta is now a dummy doll and a powerless pawn on his own chess board. The entire WAPIZ band is power hungry and jealous, unable to stomach another’s popularity. If somebody is doing good work and becomes popular, e.g. Kersi Randeria, they use any excuse to ridicule him by speaking and publishing lies, defaming that person and claiming it to be their victory which is tom-tommed through their FPJ (Faltu Parsis Journal) paid advertisement page.
How come WAPIZ has not replied to or retaliated against Ratan Unwala’s letter or Dr Homi Dhalla’s claims in The Bombay Samachar? These two have quoted from our religious texts, which the self-appointed scholars are either ignorant of or do not understand the meaning of.
Khambatta wanted to blow his own trumpet before the Sanjan audience that he was worth Rs 500 crores. His money can buy a person, a paper or an editor, laws and lawmakers, advocates and judges and politicians, but can anyone buy religion and God? The Tatas, Petits, Jejeebhoys and Wadias have never bragged about their wealth, which exceeds Khambatta’s chicken feed several times over, not to mention their charities. Khambatta’s was indeed a very cheap show.
God does not look at how eloquent your oratory or prayers are, nor at your logic and flowing lectures, but at the honesty and sincerity behind them. Stop criticizing; you will probably find more soot in your own chimney. Remember, little things done properly and honestly are far better than grandiose plans. How can people find time to hate others when life is too short for love? Spread happiness instead; it always multiplies. If Khambatta follows this simple logic, the community will remember him for the good he has done.
PHIROZ BULSARA