Bickering Parsi leaders to vote for new trustee

After much deliberation, Parsi leaders have agreed to differ, and will now hold an election to the post of trustee of Bombay Parsi Punchayet, the apex body of the community.

A seat, of a total six, was left vacant after one of the trustees quit citing, among other reasons, non-cooperation of fellow trustees.

The trustees and factions who fought bitterly in the last election decided not to contest and instead chose a consensus candidate to avoid further bickering in the community. However, the board is already split before the date of the election is to be announced on Sunday.

Orthodox group World Alliance of Parsi and Irani Zoroastrians (WAPIZ), which has two trustees, has decided to put up a candidate, Anahita Desai. Her candidature is unacceptable to other, however, as she is the wife of a fellow trustee, Yazdi Desai. Irritated members are calling her appointment as ‘Ghar nu Ghambhar’ — closely translated as favouritism in family feasting.

“It is all becoming political. One family wants to take control of the public trust by making it function like a family-run business. I understand that she is a good worker but we already have two homemakers on the board. Some people suggested to me that my son too should be standing but that is not the way to run a public trust,” said Dinshaw Mehta, chairman of the trust. Some names that were suggested were of Keki Mistry, HDFC managing director; Hosham Sinor, managing director of Zoroastrian Bank and ICICI Bank; Adi Engineer, ex MD of Tata Powers; and Farrokh Kavarana, director in the board of Tata Sons.

Meanwhile, Yazdi Desai, defending his wife’s candidature, said, “I know it may sound as if I am promoting my wife but she was the best candidate we found.”

Anahita said, “Another reason was that the community members wanted to decide one their won and ensure that no one takes a decision on their behalf.”

Vispy Wadia, member of the liberal Association of Revival of Zoroastrian, which has ideological differences with WAPIZ, said, “Anahita’s appointment will be wrong as a husband and wife team will be on the same trust. The voters will not appreciate that fact.

This is family promotion and the example they are citing of Sir Cowasjee and his wife being trustees at the same time is flawed. He was a benevolent donor and philanthropist, which is why they were appointed trustees. These guys are beneficiaries of the trust. There is no comparison.”