The community does not trust its trustees, and even the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees do not trust each other. They blatantly accuse one another of serious misdeeds ("Confidence reversed," Events and Personalities, Parsiana, January 21, 2019). It has reached a point of bringing in a vote of no confidence to oust the chairman. Either the community is not mature enough to elect the right trustees or there is a serious bankruptcy of leadership in the community. But while the community in Bombay is facing such a crisis, Delhi, Bangalore and other punchayets are working in harmony and yielding good results.
What ails the BPP? With his arrogance, BPP chairman Yazdi Desai has made enemies of his friends.
When one stands as a candidate for election, he/she is fully aware that there will be six others with whom he/she has to work in harmony. Personal grudges are to be set aside when working for a common cause. One has to be tolerant even towards one’s adversaries. If one cannot tolerate the presence of others, one has to move out; one cannot push out others or deprive them of their legitimate rights.
Jerbai Wadia, in her lifetime, scrutinized the applicants herself and saw that the flats were allotted only to the deserving. Like true karmayogis (those who work selflessly) our philanthropic ancestors never desired the fruits of their actions.
Today we are worried about our dwindling numbers, but when values are lost it matters not whether we survive or go into oblivion. Our ancestors came here and earned a name, fame and wealth. Their wealth brought happiness and prosperity to the poor and the needy. Let not their stupendous legacy be in vain.
PIROJA JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com