The community was shocked to hear that Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Yazdi Desai had banned the distribution of a Parsi newsletter in Parsi colonies (see "Jamming Parsi Junction,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, April 21,2019). Is Desai a trustee or a dictator? What do the other trustees have to say? Who has given trustees the power to tell us whom we should listen to and whom not?
If there are defamatory remarks against the trustees, they can counter the allegations through the media or file a defamation suit and drag the detractors to court. Trustees occupy their prestigious posts to serve the community. They are not masters or bosses. As trustees they have a host of responsibilities. Time and again Desai has bungled, bringing shame and disgrace to the community.
The duty of trustees is to preserve and protect the funds and assets of the trust and settle disputes without the intervention of courts, guiding the community to peace, progress and prosperity. Neglecting their duties and interfering in extraneous matters has created severe problems for the community and brought disgrace to the prestigious institution.
First they denied prayers for those who opted for other methods of disposal, punished the priests who defied their orders and squandered over three crore rupees of trust funds on a matter that brought nothing but dishonor to them and the community. Now Desai is denying an educated community the freedom of information.
Trusteeship of the BPP is a position of power, and when power is linked with selfless service and dedication it brings honor and dignity to all. Sadly, democratic election by adult franchise has proved to be a disappointment. The power intoxicated trustees have squandered public money on fruitless litigations, and we are now being denied our right to information with the ban on a Parsi newsletter. Such a ban will result in more publicity for the publication. The more one tries to gag the voice of the Press, the louder and bolder it will become.
PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@gmail.com