For nearly two hours, discussions veered from defunct anjuman properties to reservation of seats in educational institutions, to dwindling community numbers and priests, to registration formalities impacting Parsi trusts at an informal meet chaired by Kersi Deboo, Zoroastrian representative on the National Commission for Minorities. Hosted by senior counsel Burjor Antia at the Mulla and Mulla office on February 21, 2022, the objective of the meet was to apprise the community Press of the issues Deboo was trying to resolve and to bring to the fore subjects that impede the growth of the community and its institutions.
"Parsi trust properties all over India are being encroached upon,” regretted Deboo citing the case of Kudiana where the two remaining families are unable to protect the five lakh sq ft Doongerwadi property valued at over Rs 50 crore. The dakhma that was last used in 1961 is intact. Similar problems of encroachment were encountered in Tenna, Bhagwa and Diu. Bhavnagar too has dakhma land with only two or three families. To ward off encroachers in Mahuva, they planted sandalwood trees, and in Vyara, bawal trees. "Sometimes the trustees don’t even know that a particular property falls within the ambit of their trust,” regretted Deboo.
Burjor Antia (far l) and Kersi Deboo
"The community needs monetization of land with proper leadership. Live like an undivided Parsi family. Sell land and distribute it for prosperity in the community. After 50 years who will remain to sell the land?” Antia rhetorically enquired. Sarosh Daruwalla of Mazda Multimedia reminded that The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India has not been able to monetize a single defunct anjuman property. "We just talk and talk. We need to make a plan where the future generation can move forward. They are the real leaders of the community.”
Fourteen educational institutions established (post 2005) and administered by Parsis have sought minority status. Of these, 13 are Vibgyor Schools, reported Kersi’s nephew, advocate Neville Deboo. Kersi was keen to try for reservation of seats in Parsi established institutions although they were no longer administered by community members. He referred to seats reserved for Parsis in colleges affiliated to the Anand Agricultural University in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. The S. B. Garda College Trust where Neville’s father Dara Deboo is the chairman, Kersi is honorary secretary, and Neville is trustee, manages four colleges in Navsari with around 6,000 students of whom not even 10 are Parsis.
At the Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, there are 1,000 students of whom only 30 are Parsis while Avabai Petit School has 200 Parsi girls, reported Hoshaang Gotla, founder of XYZ (Xtremely Young Zoroastrians), to stress that "dealing with 450 children daily I know that most Parsis want ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) or IB (International Baccalaureate) syllabus. At Sir J. J. School, there is not a single Parsi. We need to change with the times.” Every anjuman and association "must have one person on board under 30 or 40 years of age,” he advocated. "A second tier must be developed in every organization,” stressed Antia.
"At the Dadar Athornan Institute we need students... Although the Institute incurs an annual cost of one-and-a-half to two lakh rupees per student, this year we do not have a single student from Navsari and Surat. We have one from Udvada and one from Poona,” in addition to a few from Bombay, noted principal Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia. He was concerned that after their training, priests can only expect a monthly remuneration of Rs 30,000 to 40,000. "Mostly all mobeds who take up priesthood do so as the last resort,” admitted Karanjia. "Mother, Father, God and community” should be the priority in each individual’s life, he seeks to impress on his young wards.
The percentage of Zoroastrians in India being 0.00004% (as against a frequently cited erroneous figure of 0.006%), Antia stressed that it should be impressed on the youngsters that their first duty is to increase the population. "To live and die for the community should be our aim. We have to train their minds.” Noticing that every youngster seems to be focused on his/her personal career, Antia added, "kom tékavani dhagas nathi (there is no enthusiasm to sustain the community).”
Kersi repeated the common refrain of today’s youth, "There is no time for marriage.” At 20 or 22 years, girls feel they are too young for marriage and within a few years members of other communities have won them over. Due to late marriages, the fertility levels in the community are declining. To keep the community numbers stable, 2.3 to 2.5 children are required per couple, instead of which "the replacement level is 0.8%,” pointed out Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust (WZOT).
"I was also orthodox. Now is the time to live and let live. Dharam né na toro (don’t break the community in the name of religion),” urged Antia. "Has the community not reformed over the years?” enquired Deboo, recalling the time when an andhiaru ni chhokri (a priest’s daughter) was not welcome as a daughter-in-law in a behdin home or a community singer was excommunicated for daring to pursue music as a career. Had the infamous Vansda navjotes not been performed, there might not have been chasniwallas to serve the agiaries. The scenario in India may soon be similar to that in Iran and Pakistan where only the seniors have stayed behind, the youngsters having migrated to fresh pastures.
Even if they have no income, as long as they have property, all religious and charitable trusts need to renew their registration under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act by March 31, 2022, stressed Neville. Non-compliance under Section 12AA could result in the organization becoming taxable, the amount payable being calculated at 30% plus surcharge on the market valuation of their property.
If WZOT that gets 80% of its income from overseas does not receive its Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act renewal by March 31, the Trust "will have to close shop,” bemoaned Tamboly. The authorities "must clear applications on a priority basis. Representation must be made to the Government,” he stressed. P. G.