A poor Parsi: One who doesn’t earn Rs 50,000 per month

Date

March 4, 2012

Post by

arZan

The Bombay Parsi Punchayet on Friday told the Bombay High Court that it considers a Parsi who earns under Rs 50,000 a month to be “poor” and hence eligible for allotment of a flat at subsidised rent.

Article by Rosy Sequeira | Times of India

A division bench of Justices P B Majmudar and Ramesh Dhanuka was hearing a petition filed by Rohinton Taraporewala against BPP’s president Dinshaw Mehta and other trustees.

Taraporewala, who is in his 60s, lives in Tarapur. He has contended in his petition that he is “poor and eligible” for housing, but BPP has allotted flats at Panthaky Baug in Andheri to people who are “richer” than him. He has also said that he and his wife are ailing and require to live in Mumbai to avail of medical treatment.

When the matter came up for hearing, Taraporewala’s lawyer was not present. BPP advocate Percy Gandhi said a copy of the petition had not been served to his client. “He is not poor and has moved court because he was not allotted a flat at Panthaky Baug. He is very rich and has acres and acres of land. These flats are for the poor and needy,” said Gandhi.

To a query from the judges as to who is defined as poor by the BPP, Gandhi replied, “A person earning income below Rs 50,000 a month is regarded as poor.” Justice Majmudar remarked, “We have not come across any poor Parsi.”

On October 15, 2009 the HC allowed BPP to sell 108 flats at Panthaky Baug at rates approved by the Charity Commissioner to cross-subsidise housing for needy Parsis. Some 300 flats are to be constructed and given on a merit-rating scheme.

Gandhi submitted that the108 flats “are also to be also sold to poor and needy Parsis” and as Taraporewala is “not poor”, he was not allotted a flat. Directing that a copy of the petition be served on BPP, the judges have adjourned the matter for two weeks.

75 Comments

  1. Siloo Kapadia

    I am a Parsee and I have met rich and poor Parsees. Yes, the flats should be given to poor Parsees but then again there is so much corruption at the BPP that I am not surprised that this is not always the case. Another problem: The “colonies” were meant to help the poor Parsees. The trouble is that the flats are passed down from parent to child, and even if the child is an adult and making a handsome salary they continue to live in the subsidized flats. This is a travesty. Next, many young Parsees have become very comfortable living in the nice, large flats. In many ways this has zapped our youth of the will to work hard, build their own businesses, and succeed the way their forefathers have. I have met too many younger Parsees whose only goal is to get a comfortable job and live on in the subsidized flats. Working hard, marriage, children, these things are often not in the equation. Last, the “colonies” should be there to help the poor Parsees, and not be a conduit for segregation. Parsees in India are Indian. Yes, some are more white looking than others, but on the whole we are totally mixed with the various South Asian races. Unfortunately, too many Parsees consider themselves to be Indian only when it is beneficial to them, and Persian when it is not. This is also a damned shame. We are NOT Persian. Yes, a few of our ancestors came from Persia, but that was thousands of years ago.  

  2. J S BROCA

    The Planning Commission had  told the Supreme Court in September 2011 that anyone spending more than Rs 965 per month in urban India and Rs 781 in rural India will be deemed not to be poor. Updating the poverty line cut-off figures, the commission said those spending in excess of Rs 32 a day in urban areas or Rs 26 a day in villages will no longer be eligible to draw benefits of central and state government welfare schemes meant for those living below the poverty line.According to the new criterion suggested by the planners, if a family of four in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Chennai is spending anything more than Rs 3,860 per month on its members, it would not be considered poor. It’s a definition that many would find ridiculously unrealistic. Not surprisingly, the new above the poverty line definition has already created outrage among activists, who feel it is just a ploy to artificially depress the number of poor in India. The plan panel said these were provisional figures based on the Tendulkar committee report updated for current prices by taking account of the Consumer Price Index for industrial and agricultural workers.
    Now compare above stated Rs.3860/- per month and an amount of Rs.49,000/- per month (below Rs.50.000/-) .
    To a query from the judges as to who is defined as poor by the BPP, advocate Percy Gandhi replied, “A person earning income below Rs 50,000 a month is regarded as poor.” Justice Majmudar remarked, “We have not come across any poor Parsi.” In light of above,the BPPs definition means all such Parsis are rich !! Great sense of justice in Justice Majmudar’s words : ”We have not come across any poor Parsi.” Mera Bharat Mahaan !
    J S BROCA
    NEW DELHI

  3. R99s99

    ITS A JOKE !!!!!!!!!! are we saying that retired persons and many others who are young too earn Rs 50,000 as an income…. Shameful to even discuss how conveniently deceiving & conniving a Parsi practicing the Zoroastrian faith can be…. Anyone’s guess…. ??????

  4. Siloo Kapadia

    I am a Parsee and I have met rich and poor Parsees. Yes, the flats should be given to poor Parsees but then again there is so much corruption at the BPP that I am not surprised that this is not always the case. Another problem: The “colonies” were meant to help the poor Parsees. The trouble is that the flats are passed down from parent to child, and even if the child is an adult and making a handsome salary they continue to live in the subsidized flats. This is a travesty. Next, many young Parsees have become very comfortable living in the nice, large flats. In many ways this has zapped our youth of the will to work hard, build their own businesses, and succeed the way their forefathers have. I have met too many younger Parsees whose only goal is to get a comfortable job and live on in the subsidized flats. Working hard, marriage, children, these things are often not in the equation. Last, the “colonies” should be there to help the poor Parsees, and not be a conduit for segregation. Parsees in India are Indian. Yes, some are more white looking than others, but on the whole we are totally mixed with the various South Asian races. Unfortunately, too many Parsees consider themselves to be Indian only when it is beneficial to them, and Persian when it is not. This is also a damned shame. We are NOT Persian. Yes, a few of our ancestors came from Persia, but that was thousands of years ago.  

  5. Siloo Kapadia

    I am a Parsee and I have met rich and poor Parsees. Yes, the flats should be given to poor Parsees but then again there is so much corruption at the BPP that I am not surprised that this is not always the case. Another problem: The “colonies” were meant to help the poor Parsees. The trouble is that the flats are passed down from parent to child, and even if the child is an adult and making a handsome salary they continue to live in the subsidized flats. This is a travesty. Next, many young Parsees have become very comfortable living in the nice, large flats. In many ways this has zapped our youth of the will to work hard, build their own businesses, and succeed the way their forefathers have. I have met too many younger Parsees whose only goal is to get a comfortable job and live on in the subsidized flats. Working hard, marriage, children, these things are often not in the equation. Last, the “colonies” should be there to help the poor Parsees, and not be a conduit for segregation. Parsees in India are Indian. Yes, some are more white looking than others, but on the whole we are totally mixed with the various South Asian races. Unfortunately, too many Parsees consider themselves to be Indian only when it is beneficial to them, and Persian when it is not. This is also a damned shame. We are NOT Persian. Yes, a few of our ancestors came from Persia, but that was thousands of years ago.  

  6. J S BROCA

    The Planning Commission had  told the Supreme Court in September 2011 that anyone spending more than Rs 965 per month in urban India and Rs 781 in rural India will be deemed not to be poor. Updating the poverty line cut-off figures, the commission said those spending in excess of Rs 32 a day in urban areas or Rs 26 a day in villages will no longer be eligible to draw benefits of central and state government welfare schemes meant for those living below the poverty line.According to the new criterion suggested by the planners, if a family of four in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Chennai is spending anything more than Rs 3,860 per month on its members, it would not be considered poor. It’s a definition that many would find ridiculously unrealistic. Not surprisingly, the new above the poverty line definition has already created outrage among activists, who feel it is just a ploy to artificially depress the number of poor in India. The plan panel said these were provisional figures based on the Tendulkar committee report updated for current prices by taking account of the Consumer Price Index for industrial and agricultural workers.
    Now compare above stated Rs.3860/- per month and an amount of Rs.49,000/- per month (below Rs.50.000/-) .
    To a query from the judges as to who is defined as poor by the BPP, advocate Percy Gandhi replied, “A person earning income below Rs 50,000 a month is regarded as poor.” Justice Majmudar remarked, “We have not come across any poor Parsi.” In light of above,the BPPs definition means all such Parsis are rich !! Great sense of justice in Justice Majmudar’s words : “We have not come across any poor Parsi.” Mera Bharat Mahaan !
    J S BROCA
    NEW DELHI

  7. J S BROCA

    The Planning Commission had  told the Supreme Court in September 2011 that anyone spending more than Rs 965 per month in urban India and Rs 781 in rural India will be deemed not to be poor. Updating the poverty line cut-off figures, the commission said those spending in excess of Rs 32 a day in urban areas or Rs 26 a day in villages will no longer be eligible to draw benefits of central and state government welfare schemes meant for those living below the poverty line.According to the new criterion suggested by the planners, if a family of four in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Chennai is spending anything more than Rs 3,860 per month on its members, it would not be considered poor. It’s a definition that many would find ridiculously unrealistic. Not surprisingly, the new above the poverty line definition has already created outrage among activists, who feel it is just a ploy to artificially depress the number of poor in India. The plan panel said these were provisional figures based on the Tendulkar committee report updated for current prices by taking account of the Consumer Price Index for industrial and agricultural workers.
    Now compare above stated Rs.3860/- per month and an amount of Rs.49,000/- per month (below Rs.50.000/-) .
    To a query from the judges as to who is defined as poor by the BPP, advocate Percy Gandhi replied, “A person earning income below Rs 50,000 a month is regarded as poor.” Justice Majmudar remarked, “We have not come across any poor Parsi.” In light of above,the BPPs definition means all such Parsis are rich !! Great sense of justice in Justice Majmudar’s words : “We have not come across any poor Parsi.” Mera Bharat Mahaan !
    J S BROCA
    NEW DELHI

  8. R99s99

    ITS A JOKE !!!!!!!!!! are we saying that retired persons and many others who are young too earn Rs 50,000 as an income…. Shameful to even discuss how conveniently deceiving & conniving a Parsi practicing the Zoroastrian faith can be…. Anyone’s guess…. ??????

  9. R99s99

    ITS A JOKE !!!!!!!!!! are we saying that retired persons and many others who are young too earn Rs 50,000 as an income…. Shameful to even discuss how conveniently deceiving & conniving a Parsi practicing the Zoroastrian faith can be…. Anyone’s guess…. ??????

  10. Kainaz

    ALL TRUSTEES ARE NO.1 CHORS FILLING THEIR OWN POCKETS WITH OUR MONEY. THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO TASK & SEVERE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

  11. Kainaz

    ALL TRUSTEES ARE NO.1 CHORS FILLING THEIR OWN POCKETS WITH OUR MONEY. THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO TASK & SEVERE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

  12. Kainaz

    ALL TRUSTEES ARE NO.1 CHORS FILLING THEIR OWN POCKETS WITH OUR MONEY. THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO TASK & SEVERE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

  13. xyz

    BPP and Percy Gandhi is clearly FOOLING the Honourable High Court. Yes, indeed there is too much CORRUPTION in BPP office and this is the only reason they become Trustees. All 7 must be DEBARRED from standing for any future elections. Just remove them as soon as possible.

  14. Kapadia

    There is ample land and FSI belonging to the BPP and other Parsi Trusts, it is only due their incompetence, corruption and constant in fighting in our Trusts that there is shortage of flats.

     Otherwise, Mr.Taraporewala would have definitely been allotted a flat.  Most of the present generation of Parsis are service oriented people and cannot be considered to be rich in the present scenario.

      A salary of Rs.50,000/- of a single person in family of 4 is peanuts considering the present cost of living, cost of education for children, etc.  Yes, there is lack of the number of professionals in our community.  But, even the professionals of our community who do not have any influence are sidelined by the other majority communities and have to settle for low paying jobs just because they belong to a submissive minority Parsi community.  There is no sense of fair play, only regional and religious groupism.  It will take another 200 years change the mind set of the majority communities of India.  By that time Parsis and Zororastrianism would have vanished from India.

  15. phiroze

    HOW OR WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO THAT?

  16. Phiroze

     It should be Rs. 5000/mth or 50000/annum.

  17. xyz

    BPP and Percy Gandhi is clearly FOOLING the Honourable High Court. Yes, indeed there is too much CORRUPTION in BPP office and this is the only reason they become Trustees. All 7 must be DEBARRED from standing for any future elections. Just remove them as soon as possible.

  18. xyz

    BPP and Percy Gandhi is clearly FOOLING the Honourable High Court. Yes, indeed there is too much CORRUPTION in BPP office and this is the only reason they become Trustees. All 7 must be DEBARRED from standing for any future elections. Just remove them as soon as possible.

  19. Kapadia

    There is ample land and FSI belonging to the BPP and other Parsi Trusts, it is only due their incompetence, corruption and constant in fighting in our Trusts that there is shortage of flats.

     Otherwise, Mr.Taraporewala would have definitely been allotted a flat.  Most of the present generation of Parsis are service oriented people and cannot be considered to be rich in the present scenario.

      A salary of Rs.50,000/- of a single person in family of 4 is peanuts considering the present cost of living, cost of education for children, etc.  Yes, there is lack of the number of professionals in our community.  But, even the professionals of our community who do not have any influence are sidelined by the other majority communities and have to settle for low paying jobs just because they belong to a submissive minority Parsi community.  There is no sense of fair play, only regional and religious groupism.  It will take another 200 years change the mind set of the majority communities of India.  By that time Parsis and Zororastrianism would have vanished from India.

  20. Kapadia

    There is ample land and FSI belonging to the BPP and other Parsi Trusts, it is only due their incompetence, corruption and constant in fighting in our Trusts that there is shortage of flats.

     Otherwise, Mr.Taraporewala would have definitely been allotted a flat.  Most of the present generation of Parsis are service oriented people and cannot be considered to be rich in the present scenario.

      A salary of Rs.50,000/- of a single person in family of 4 is peanuts considering the present cost of living, cost of education for children, etc.  Yes, there is lack of the number of professionals in our community.  But, even the professionals of our community who do not have any influence are sidelined by the other majority communities and have to settle for low paying jobs just because they belong to a submissive minority Parsi community.  There is no sense of fair play, only regional and religious groupism.  It will take another 200 years change the mind set of the majority communities of India.  By that time Parsis and Zororastrianism would have vanished from India.

  21. phiroze

    HOW OR WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO THAT?

  22. phiroze

    HOW OR WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO THAT?

  23. Phiroze

     It should be Rs. 5000/mth or 50000/annum.

  24. Phiroze

     It should be Rs. 5000/mth or 50000/annum.

  25. Rashna

    If ‘formula’ of Phiroze is accepted then  80% of  flats in Godrej Baug, Cusrow Baug and Rustom Baug  etc will fall vacant because of persons earning more than Rs. 5,000/ per month. As for Ness Bau, all the flats will become vacant. Phiroze your comments are more amusing and  entertaining than thought provoking.

  26. Rashna

    If ‘formula’ of Phiroze is accepted then  80% of  flats in Godrej Baug, Cusrow Baug and Rustom Baug  etc will fall vacant because of persons earning more than Rs. 5,000/ per month. As for Ness Bau, all the flats will become vacant. Phiroze your comments are more amusing and  entertaining than thought provoking.

  27. Rashna

    If ‘formula’ of Phiroze is accepted then  80% of  flats in Godrej Baug, Cusrow Baug and Rustom Baug  etc will fall vacant because of persons earning more than Rs. 5,000/ per month. As for Ness Bau, all the flats will become vacant. Phiroze your comments are more amusing and  entertaining than thought provoking.

  28. Rashna

    If ‘formula’ of Phiroze is accepted then  80% of  flats in Godrej Baug, Cusrow Baug and Rustom Baug  etc will fall vacant because of persons earning more than Rs. 5,000/ per month. As for Ness Bau, all the flats will become vacant. Phiroze your comments are more amusing and  entertaining than thought provoking.

  29. xyz

    File a case u/s 41-d and 41-e in charity commissioner’s office under bombay public charitable trusts act, 1950 and remove all 7 existing trustees. This is the ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION.

  30. xyz

    Yes, BPP has lot of FSI available and they have enough money to buy TDR also. But there is still constant fighting amongst all 7 trustees. Each and every trustee wants to make unaccounted money for himself. There are more than 5,000 flats already with BPP, 40 percent – a rough estimate are closed or are pending in courts. Waiting list is still almost 900 and will increase day by day. Parsee girls do not want to marry a parsi boy because they do not want dustbins with them. That is the reason they prefer marrying non-parsees. Our trustees children are already married to non-parsees and they still continue with the parsee surnames and they become trustees in social organisations also. Really ridiculous way of functioning. Long Live Parsees.

  31. phiroze

    How and who will do that? Who will be appointed in their place??

  32. xyz

    File a case u/s 41-d and 41-e in charity commissioner’s office under bombay public charitable trusts act, 1950 and remove all 7 existing trustees. This is the ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION.

  33. xyz

    File a case u/s 41-d and 41-e in charity commissioner’s office under bombay public charitable trusts act, 1950 and remove all 7 existing trustees. This is the ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION.

  34. xyz

    Yes, BPP has lot of FSI available and they have enough money to buy TDR also. But there is still constant fighting amongst all 7 trustees. Each and every trustee wants to make unaccounted money for himself. There are more than 5,000 flats already with BPP, 40 percent – a rough estimate are closed or are pending in courts. Waiting list is still almost 900 and will increase day by day. Parsee girls do not want to marry a parsi boy because they do not want dustbins with them. That is the reason they prefer marrying non-parsees. Our trustees children are already married to non-parsees and they still continue with the parsee surnames and they become trustees in social organisations also. Really ridiculous way of functioning. Long Live Parsees.

  35. xyz

    Yes, BPP has lot of FSI available and they have enough money to buy TDR also. But there is still constant fighting amongst all 7 trustees. Each and every trustee wants to make unaccounted money for himself. There are more than 5,000 flats already with BPP, 40 percent – a rough estimate are closed or are pending in courts. Waiting list is still almost 900 and will increase day by day. Parsee girls do not want to marry a parsi boy because they do not want dustbins with them. That is the reason they prefer marrying non-parsees. Our trustees children are already married to non-parsees and they still continue with the parsee surnames and they become trustees in social organisations also. Really ridiculous way of functioning. Long Live Parsees.

  36. phiroze

    How and who will do that? Who will be appointed in their place??

  37. phiroze

    How and who will do that? Who will be appointed in their place??

  38. Adarbahman

    Right Rashna, but you ought not to complain since this  amusement is absolutely tax free. Such geniuses can never start or participate in an intellectual debate and their day begind and ends with reading their name appear somewhere and relish an egg on their face. The greater joke is that they call others ‘fictitious’!

  39. Adarbahman

    Right Rashna, but you ought not to complain since this  amusement is absolutely tax free. Such geniuses can never start or participate in an intellectual debate and their day begind and ends with reading their name appear somewhere and relish an egg on their face. The greater joke is that they call others ‘fictitious’!

  40. Adarbahman

    Right Rashna, but you ought not to complain since this  amusement is absolutely tax free. Such geniuses can never start or participate in an intellectual debate and their day begind and ends with reading their name appear somewhere and relish an egg on their face. The greater joke is that they call others ‘fictitious’!

  41. Rustom

    Even well to do Parsis dont want to pay rent half as much as those paying whilst staying in slums. Take the outgoings of Khsurow Baug where the hoity toitty want to walk their poodle but will make ridiculous excuses if having to cough up for maintaining the building or for car parks.
    On the other hand it is an open fact that some trustees of other associations like in Dadar under disguise want the covenant to go away as they are sitting on huge pots of money then and also as it woulod suit their intermaried family members. Of course the last time the community thought of or made reference to a ‘demographic change’ and its effect on the new generation zoroastrian due to this must have been a 100 years ago..everyone is too embarrassed to talk of a demographical change bought in places given free for Parsis exclusively. Women married outside talk of righteousness whilst fudging books and keeping their maiden surnames for holding on to properties. Another classic example is of a lady married out, and to her luck, her new surname is ‘Mehta’ and thus it makes it easy to be camofluged as a ‘Parsi’ due to name being found in ‘Parsis’ also. Of course the children being brought up in a gujrati tradition and thus bringing about a demographical change wont be talked off, whilst a Parsi couple will have to shell out 3 to 5 crores for that property though the colony was exclusively built for them. Thus they wont be able to afford to stay in a Parsi environment and move out and their kids will be brought up under a less zoroastrian culture, add to that the demographical change brought in that family too due to numerical larger denomination of the foreign culture. If this sounds fantasizing then one has to look at ‘Christian, bori, sunni, muslim, jain, sikh, etc etc colonies so that theirs can assimilate and propagate their culture to their future generations. These dont allow members of another community coming in for the same reason our colonies were built…
    So we have Prasi families moving out, intermarried moving in, demographical change in the colonies too, and future generations of Parsis being not being able to take advantage of what was built for them

    The pseudo secularism, the sheer hypocracy might warrant them to attack this, yet one has to only look at other community colonies where in alien faiths are not allowed for the same purpose our colonies were built….and the same being ridiculed by the pseudo secularist and intermarried, that too after their previous generation moved in theiren for the same reason…and they themselves enjoyed the precints and advantages of a Parsi colony..

    Irony is everyone wants to move into a ‘Parsi colony’ ….yet dont want to maintain it as a ‘Parsi colony’ and some will also deride the fact that there should be a ‘Parsi colony’…..

    Then Parsi Khabar and other news papers and blogs will blog about’ Once upon a time the ‘Parsis used to live here’ …like they write about the Irani cafes dying out….

  42. Noshir M. Khambatta

    “A poor Parsi: One who doesn’t earn Rs 50,000 per month”.Since when??Probably the most “far out” sentence so far published on this web site for the year 2012.Wonder what’s ahead for our community!! 

  43. Rustom

    Even well to do Parsis dont want to pay rent half as much as those paying whilst staying in slums. Take the outgoings of Khsurow Baug where the hoity toitty want to walk their poodle but will make ridiculous excuses if having to cough up for maintaining the building or for car parks.
    On the other hand it is an open fact that some trustees of other associations like in Dadar under disguise want the covenant to go away as they are sitting on huge pots of money then and also as it woulod suit their intermaried family members. Of course the last time the community thought of or made reference to a ‘demographic change’ and its effect on the new generation zoroastrian due to this must have been a 100 years ago..everyone is too embarrassed to talk of a demographical change bought in places given free for Parsis exclusively. Women married outside talk of righteousness whilst fudging books and keeping their maiden surnames for holding on to properties. Another classic example is of a lady married out, and to her luck, her new surname is ‘Mehta’ and thus it makes it easy to be camofluged as a ‘Parsi’ due to name being found in ‘Parsis’ also. Of course the children being brought up in a gujrati tradition and thus bringing about a demographical change wont be talked off, whilst a Parsi couple will have to shell out 3 to 5 crores for that property though the colony was exclusively built for them. Thus they wont be able to afford to stay in a Parsi environment and move out and their kids will be brought up under a less zoroastrian culture, add to that the demographical change brought in that family too due to numerical larger denomination of the foreign culture. If this sounds fantasizing then one has to look at ‘Christian, bori, sunni, muslim, jain, sikh, etc etc colonies so that theirs can assimilate and propagate their culture to their future generations. These dont allow members of another community coming in for the same reason our colonies were built…
    So we have Prasi families moving out, intermarried moving in, demographical change in the colonies too, and future generations of Parsis being not being able to take advantage of what was built for them

    The pseudo secularism, the sheer hypocracy might warrant them to attack this, yet one has to only look at other community colonies where in alien faiths are not allowed for the same purpose our colonies were built….and the same being ridiculed by the pseudo secularist and intermarried, that too after their previous generation moved in theiren for the same reason…and they themselves enjoyed the precints and advantages of a Parsi colony..

    Irony is everyone wants to move into a ‘Parsi colony’ ….yet dont want to maintain it as a ‘Parsi colony’ and some will also deride the fact that there should be a ‘Parsi colony’…..

    Then Parsi Khabar and other news papers and blogs will blog about’ Once upon a time the ‘Parsis used to live here’ …like they write about the Irani cafes dying out….

  44. Rustom

    Even well to do Parsis dont want to pay rent half as much as those paying whilst staying in slums. Take the outgoings of Khsurow Baug where the hoity toitty want to walk their poodle but will make ridiculous excuses if having to cough up for maintaining the building or for car parks.
    On the other hand it is an open fact that some trustees of other associations like in Dadar under disguise want the covenant to go away as they are sitting on huge pots of money then and also as it woulod suit their intermaried family members. Of course the last time the community thought of or made reference to a ‘demographic change’ and its effect on the new generation zoroastrian due to this must have been a 100 years ago..everyone is too embarrassed to talk of a demographical change bought in places given free for Parsis exclusively. Women married outside talk of righteousness whilst fudging books and keeping their maiden surnames for holding on to properties. Another classic example is of a lady married out, and to her luck, her new surname is ‘Mehta’ and thus it makes it easy to be camofluged as a ‘Parsi’ due to name being found in ‘Parsis’ also. Of course the children being brought up in a gujrati tradition and thus bringing about a demographical change wont be talked off, whilst a Parsi couple will have to shell out 3 to 5 crores for that property though the colony was exclusively built for them. Thus they wont be able to afford to stay in a Parsi environment and move out and their kids will be brought up under a less zoroastrian culture, add to that the demographical change brought in that family too due to numerical larger denomination of the foreign culture. If this sounds fantasizing then one has to look at ‘Christian, bori, sunni, muslim, jain, sikh, etc etc colonies so that theirs can assimilate and propagate their culture to their future generations. These dont allow members of another community coming in for the same reason our colonies were built…
    So we have Prasi families moving out, intermarried moving in, demographical change in the colonies too, and future generations of Parsis being not being able to take advantage of what was built for them

    The pseudo secularism, the sheer hypocracy might warrant them to attack this, yet one has to only look at other community colonies where in alien faiths are not allowed for the same purpose our colonies were built….and the same being ridiculed by the pseudo secularist and intermarried, that too after their previous generation moved in theiren for the same reason…and they themselves enjoyed the precints and advantages of a Parsi colony..

    Irony is everyone wants to move into a ‘Parsi colony’ ….yet dont want to maintain it as a ‘Parsi colony’ and some will also deride the fact that there should be a ‘Parsi colony’…..

    Then Parsi Khabar and other news papers and blogs will blog about’ Once upon a time the ‘Parsis used to live here’ …like they write about the Irani cafes dying out….

  45. Noshir M. Khambatta

    “A poor Parsi: One who doesn’t earn Rs 50,000 per month”.Since when??Probably the most “far out” sentence so far published on this web site for the year 2012.Wonder what’s ahead for our community!! 

  46. Noshir M. Khambatta

    “A poor Parsi: One who doesn’t earn Rs 50,000 per month”.Since when??Probably the most “far out” sentence so far published on this web site for the year 2012.Wonder what’s ahead for our community!! 

  47. Ervard. Athornan

    I FULLY ENDORSE THE OPINION EXPRESSED BY RUSTOM. PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR BIRTH AS PARSEES, LIVE IN PARSEE BUILDINGS AT SUBSIDIZED RENTS AND THEY TALK OF  BEING “SECULAR” MINDED AND PASS ON TO THEIR  TENANCY TO THEIR KIDS WHO ARE MARRIED OUTSIDE THE FAITH. WORST SOME OF THEM FILE CASES ON EVEN RELIGIOUS ISSUES BECAUSE THEIR OWN CHILDREN HAVE MARRIED OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT HAVE NO SCRUPLES IN “SETTLING” THE MATTER OF FLATS WITH B.P.P. THE LARGEST LANDLORD.
    RUSTOM HAS HOWEVER NOT DWELT ON A NEW SET OF PARSEE BUILDERS -ONE ALREADY A TRUSTEE IN BPP AND ANOTHER ON SIDELINES WAITING FOR NEXT ELECTION. THEY ARE CONSTRUCTING HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN DADAR PARSEE COLONY.
     WILL THESE BUILDERS NOT SELL FLATS TO MEMBERS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AFTER ACCOMMODATING PREVIOUS TENANTS OF BUILDINGS UNDER REDEVELOPMENT.? IS THIS  THE CONCEPT OF PRESERVING THE PAST AND PROTECTING THE FUTURE?

  48. Ervard. Athornan

    I FULLY ENDORSE THE OPINION EXPRESSED BY RUSTOM. PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR BIRTH AS PARSEES, LIVE IN PARSEE BUILDINGS AT SUBSIDIZED RENTS AND THEY TALK OF  BEING “SECULAR” MINDED AND PASS ON TO THEIR  TENANCY TO THEIR KIDS WHO ARE MARRIED OUTSIDE THE FAITH. WORST SOME OF THEM FILE CASES ON EVEN RELIGIOUS ISSUES BECAUSE THEIR OWN CHILDREN HAVE MARRIED OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT HAVE NO SCRUPLES IN “SETTLING” THE MATTER OF FLATS WITH B.P.P. THE LARGEST LANDLORD.
    RUSTOM HAS HOWEVER NOT DWELT ON A NEW SET OF PARSEE BUILDERS -ONE ALREADY A TRUSTEE IN BPP AND ANOTHER ON SIDELINES WAITING FOR NEXT ELECTION. THEY ARE CONSTRUCTING HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN DADAR PARSEE COLONY.
     WILL THESE BUILDERS NOT SELL FLATS TO MEMBERS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AFTER ACCOMMODATING PREVIOUS TENANTS OF BUILDINGS UNDER REDEVELOPMENT.? IS THIS  THE CONCEPT OF PRESERVING THE PAST AND PROTECTING THE FUTURE?

  49. Ervard. Athornan

    I FULLY ENDORSE THE OPINION EXPRESSED BY RUSTOM. PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR BIRTH AS PARSEES, LIVE IN PARSEE BUILDINGS AT SUBSIDIZED RENTS AND THEY TALK OF  BEING “SECULAR” MINDED AND PASS ON TO THEIR  TENANCY TO THEIR KIDS WHO ARE MARRIED OUTSIDE THE FAITH. WORST SOME OF THEM FILE CASES ON EVEN RELIGIOUS ISSUES BECAUSE THEIR OWN CHILDREN HAVE MARRIED OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT HAVE NO SCRUPLES IN “SETTLING” THE MATTER OF FLATS WITH B.P.P. THE LARGEST LANDLORD.
    RUSTOM HAS HOWEVER NOT DWELT ON A NEW SET OF PARSEE BUILDERS -ONE ALREADY A TRUSTEE IN BPP AND ANOTHER ON SIDELINES WAITING FOR NEXT ELECTION. THEY ARE CONSTRUCTING HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN DADAR PARSEE COLONY.
     WILL THESE BUILDERS NOT SELL FLATS TO MEMBERS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AFTER ACCOMMODATING PREVIOUS TENANTS OF BUILDINGS UNDER REDEVELOPMENT.? IS THIS  THE CONCEPT OF PRESERVING THE PAST AND PROTECTING THE FUTURE?

  50. Kapadia

    I endorse the view of Rusom and Ervard Athornan who are a very tiny minority who are able to portray  the correct picture of our community where the conservatives are always on the receiving side.

  51. xyz

    All 7 trustees are TOTALLY USELESS. They are not working for poor and needy. They are just filling up their own pockets and wasting hard earned money lying in the CORPUS. It is high time parsees should unite and stand up for their rights.

  52. xyz

    All 7 trustees are TOTALLY USELESS. They are not working for poor and needy. They are just filling up their own pockets and wasting hard earned money lying in the CORPUS. It is high time parsees should unite and stand up for their rights.

  53. xyz

    All 7 trustees are TOTALLY USELESS. They are not working for poor and needy. They are just filling up their own pockets and wasting hard earned money lying in the CORPUS. It is high time parsees should unite and stand up for their rights.

  54. Darius Khambatta

    I wonder why those that want to be heard the most type their comments with ‘caps lock’..?anyways, the base line should be that the flats must be allotted to the really needy and poor members of the community without prejudice and in all fairness.That im sure was the aim of our philanthophic forefathers and it is with this spirit that the issue should be dealt with.

  55. Darius Khambatta

    I wonder why those that want to be heard the most type their comments with ‘caps lock’..?anyways, the base line should be that the flats must be allotted to the really needy and poor members of the community without prejudice and in all fairness.That im sure was the aim of our philanthophic forefathers and it is with this spirit that the issue should be dealt with.

  56. Darius Khambatta

    I wonder why those that want to be heard the most type their comments with ‘caps lock’..?anyways, the base line should be that the flats must be allotted to the really needy and poor members of the community without prejudice and in all fairness.That im sure was the aim of our philanthophic forefathers and it is with this spirit that the issue should be dealt with.

  57. Fsutaria

    Rustom, it is interesting that you berate parsi women who are married outside the community for hanging on to their madien names, and/or seeking their just inheritance, while ignoring the legions of parsi men with non-parsi spouses, who pass off their half-breed spawns as parsi children, and continue to stay in parsee colonies. Misogynist, much? Or perhaps you think that children of parsi fathers and
    non-parsis mothers did not inherit any genes from their mothers?
     
    All women have the fundamental right to keep their madien names, even after their marraige. And girls have the same inheritance rights as boys. Get that idea clearly into your head or move to Iran (where women really are 2nd class citizens).

  58. Sarosh

    Silly woman, perhaps u are one of the ..i quote ur remark-“legions of” ….perhaps u are one of the legions of frustrated parsee woman who could not find a spouse due to your high headed maniacal ego. So you deserve to remain a spinster an live and finally die a lonely death.

  59. Sarosh

    and Madam “F”sutaria..whoever u are ,how the hell do u know that women are 2nd class citizens in Iran? For starters having  stayed in Iran for a reasonably long duration let me tell you that Iranian women are far far more beautiful, modern, hardworking, polite, well mannered acheivers than any ugly duckling of a Parsee female can ever be.They have inherited all the proud heritage and fabulous speech and manners that no parsee woman can even hope to acheive. In fact u are the gujju half breed, with no manners, no native tongue, no land, no dress..no absolute nothing…got it.

  60. Fsutaria

    Rustom, it is interesting that you berate parsi women who are married outside the community for hanging on to their madien names, and/or seeking their just inheritance, while ignoring the legions of parsi men with non-parsi spouses, who pass off their half-breed spawns as parsi children, and continue to stay in parsee colonies. Misogynist, much? Or perhaps you think that children of parsi fathers and
    non-parsis mothers did not inherit any genes from their mothers?
     
    All women have the fundamental right to keep their madien names, even after their marraige. And girls have the same inheritance rights as boys. Get that idea clearly into your head or move to Iran (where women really are 2nd class citizens).

  61. Fsutaria

    Rustom, it is interesting that you berate parsi women who are married outside the community for hanging on to their madien names, and/or seeking their just inheritance, while ignoring the legions of parsi men with non-parsi spouses, who pass off their half-breed spawns as parsi children, and continue to stay in parsee colonies. Misogynist, much? Or perhaps you think that children of parsi fathers and
    non-parsis mothers did not inherit any genes from their mothers?
     
    All women have the fundamental right to keep their madien names, even after their marraige. And girls have the same inheritance rights as boys. Get that idea clearly into your head or move to Iran (where women really are 2nd class citizens).

  62. Fsutaria

    Rustom, it is interesting that you berate parsi women who are married outside the community for hanging on to their madien names, and/or seeking their just inheritance, while ignoring the legions of parsi men with non-parsi spouses, who pass off their half-breed spawns as parsi children, and continue to stay in parsee colonies. Misogynist, much? Or perhaps you think that children of parsi fathers and
    non-parsis mothers did not inherit any genes from their mothers?
     
    All women have the fundamental right to keep their madien names, even after their marraige. And girls have the same inheritance rights as boys. Get that idea clearly into your head or move to Iran (where women really are 2nd class citizens).

  63. Sarosh

    Silly woman, perhaps u are one of the ..i quote ur remark-“legions of” ….perhaps u are one of the legions of frustrated parsee woman who could not find a spouse due to your high headed maniacal ego. So you deserve to remain a spinster an live and finally die a lonely death.

  64. Sarosh

    Silly woman, perhaps u are one of the ..i quote ur remark-“legions of” ….perhaps u are one of the legions of frustrated parsee woman who could not find a spouse due to your high headed maniacal ego. So you deserve to remain a spinster an live and finally die a lonely death.

  65. Sarosh

    and Madam “F”sutaria..whoever u are ,how the hell do u know that women are 2nd class citizens in Iran? For starters having  stayed in Iran for a reasonably long duration let me tell you that Iranian women are far far more beautiful, modern, hardworking, polite, well mannered acheivers than any ugly duckling of a Parsee female can ever be.They have inherited all the proud heritage and fabulous speech and manners that no parsee woman can even hope to acheive. In fact u are the gujju half breed, with no manners, no native tongue, no land, no dress..no absolute nothing…got it.

  66. Sarosh

    and Madam “F”sutaria..whoever u are ,how the hell do u know that women are 2nd class citizens in Iran? For starters having  stayed in Iran for a reasonably long duration let me tell you that Iranian women are far far more beautiful, modern, hardworking, polite, well mannered acheivers than any ugly duckling of a Parsee female can ever be.They have inherited all the proud heritage and fabulous speech and manners that no parsee woman can even hope to acheive. In fact u are the gujju half breed, with no manners, no native tongue, no land, no dress..no absolute nothing…got it.

  67. Fsutaria

     Obviously, despite staying in Iran, you were oblivious to the plight of the women who are sentenced to be stoned to death (for adultery) , or who are sent to jail for acts that would not even be considered a crime in a civilized country (e.g. taking off the chador in public or letting a wisp of hair stray from under the headscarf). Doesn’t that strike you as a sign of being treated as 2nd class citizens?

    Perhaps you should bone up on your google-fu before arguing with a more knowledgeable stranger on the internet. With absolute losers like you dominating the male population of the parsi community, it seems no wonder that “legions of” (since you so adore the phase)  parsi women prefer to remain unmarried, or choose spouses from outside your community.

  68. Fsutaria

     Obviously, despite staying in Iran, you were oblivious to the plight of the women who are sentenced to be stoned to death (for adultery) , or who are sent to jail for acts that would not even be considered a crime in a civilized country (e.g. taking off the chador in public or letting a wisp of hair stray from under the headscarf). Doesn’t that strike you as a sign of being treated as 2nd class citizens?

    Perhaps you should bone up on your google-fu before arguing with a more knowledgeable stranger on the internet. With absolute losers like you dominating the male population of the parsi community, it seems no wonder that “legions of” (since you so adore the phase)  parsi women prefer to remain unmarried, or choose spouses from outside your community.

  69. Fsutaria

     Obviously, despite staying in Iran, you were oblivious to the plight of the women who are sentenced to be stoned to death (for adultery) , or who are sent to jail for acts that would not even be considered a crime in a civilized country (e.g. taking off the chador in public or letting a wisp of hair stray from under the headscarf). Doesn’t that strike you as a sign of being treated as 2nd class citizens?

    Perhaps you should bone up on your google-fu before arguing with a more knowledgeable stranger on the internet. With absolute losers like you dominating the male population of the parsi community, it seems no wonder that “legions of” (since you so adore the phase)  parsi women prefer to remain unmarried, or choose spouses from outside your community.

  70. Sarosh

    Venemous madame “F” sutaria….jealous of Iranian chicks? Yeah, give us guys Iranian gals anyday. Ugly ducklings like u can carry on in the charity blocks,who gives a damn to parsee hags like you and your sis.

  71. Sarosh

    Venemous madame “F” sutaria….jealous of Iranian chicks? Yeah, give us guys Iranian gals anyday. Ugly ducklings like u can carry on in the charity blocks,who gives a damn to parsee hags like you and your sis.

  72. Sarosh

    Venemous madame “F” sutaria….jealous of Iranian chicks? Yeah, give us guys Iranian gals anyday. Ugly ducklings like u can carry on in the charity blocks,who gives a damn to parsee hags like you and your sis.

  73. Fsutaria

     Hmm… looks like the venom has found its mark, if makes you wither so, you poor parsi loser, you! :-). Anyway, from this rather amusing dialogue, it is pretty clear  that, lacking the self-discipline, ambition and the strength-of-character which made parsi males of yore true *men*, the only recourse left to you and your ilk is to take solace in unrelenting misogyny — and a  free apartment at expense of the parsi community.

    No wonder you fear the hard-working parsi women (and all women, really) who have imbibed the educational and entrepreneurial spirit of our community, and carved a successful career and an independent life for themselves.  Not for them to beg at Parsi trust’s doors, seeking a subsidized flat in the name of charity – unlike you and your kind.

     Better lay off the internet, the gymkhana and the chotta-peg right now, my boy. You need to start working on that career, ’cause if you don’t, your beautiful Iranian “gal” is soon going to leave you for  some handsome, hard-working non-parsi – and lord know that there is plenty of choice out there, given that non-parsi males exceed the parsi males in number by about… 3.5 billion! After all, why should a beautiful and virtuous Iranian lady devote herself  to an envious, lazy, misogynist  parsi loser, who cannot attract an admiring glance even from the ugly duckings of his own community?  Think of that. And go to work.
                                Good luck & nice talking to you,
                                                                                    -FSutaria.

  74. Fsutaria

     Hmm… looks like the venom has found its mark, if makes you wither so, you poor parsi loser, you! :-). Anyway, from this rather amusing dialogue, it is pretty clear  that, lacking the self-discipline, ambition and the strength-of-character which made parsi males of yore true *men*, the only recourse left to you and your ilk is to take solace in unrelenting misogyny — and a  free apartment at expense of the parsi community.

    No wonder you fear the hard-working parsi women (and all women, really) who have imbibed the educational and entrepreneurial spirit of our community, and carved a successful career and an independent life for themselves.  Not for them to beg at Parsi trust’s doors, seeking a subsidized flat in the name of charity – unlike you and your kind.

     Better lay off the internet, the gymkhana and the chotta-peg right now, my boy. You need to start working on that career, ’cause if you don’t, your beautiful Iranian “gal” is soon going to leave you for  some handsome, hard-working non-parsi – and lord know that there is plenty of choice out there, given that non-parsi males exceed the parsi males in number by about… 3.5 billion! After all, why should a beautiful and virtuous Iranian lady devote herself  to an envious, lazy, misogynist  parsi loser, who cannot attract an admiring glance even from the ugly duckings of his own community?  Think of that. And go to work.
                                Good luck & nice talking to you,
                                                                                    -FSutaria.

  75. Fsutaria

     Hmm… looks like the venom has found its mark, if makes you wither so, you poor parsi loser, you! :-). Anyway, from this rather amusing dialogue, it is pretty clear  that, lacking the self-discipline, ambition and the strength-of-character which made parsi males of yore true *men*, the only recourse left to you and your ilk is to take solace in unrelenting misogyny — and a  free apartment at expense of the parsi community.

    No wonder you fear the hard-working parsi women (and all women, really) who have imbibed the educational and entrepreneurial spirit of our community, and carved a successful career and an independent life for themselves.  Not for them to beg at Parsi trust’s doors, seeking a subsidized flat in the name of charity – unlike you and your kind.

     Better lay off the internet, the gymkhana and the chotta-peg right now, my boy. You need to start working on that career, ’cause if you don’t, your beautiful Iranian “gal” is soon going to leave you for  some handsome, hard-working non-parsi – and lord know that there is plenty of choice out there, given that non-parsi males exceed the parsi males in number by about… 3.5 billion! After all, why should a beautiful and virtuous Iranian lady devote herself  to an envious, lazy, misogynist  parsi loser, who cannot attract an admiring glance even from the ugly duckings of his own community?  Think of that. And go to work.
                                Good luck & nice talking to you,
                                                                                    -FSutaria.