Armaity Rustom Tirandaz: An Interview

Date

April 3, 2009

Post by

arZan

Shernaaz Engineer interviews Armaity Tirandaz, wife of recently deceased BPP Trustee Rustom Tirandaz.

What does one call you – Rabri Devi (as you have recently been rechristened) or Armaity Rustom Tirandaz?

I was born Armaity Karani and, by marriage, became Armaity Rustom Tirandaz. I cannot be anyone but myself! While I yearn, strive and struggle to fill my Rustom’s shoes, I certainly cannot wear anyone else’s but my own.

Ideologically, where do you stand on crucial community issues?

I have no qualms confessing that I’m a traditionalist. However, this does not mean there should be no progress for the betterment of the community. I’m all for change – but not when it comes to our religious tenets, which are time-honoured and must be treasured. I am totally against cremation – no Cremate ni Bungli and no four-day prayers for those opting for cremation. Neither do I advocate intermarriage – I had told my children a long time ago that whenever they married, it should be within the community. Intermarried Zoroastrian women know from the start that they need to make a choice between their spouse and their religion – and they make it willingly, so why raise a fuss later?

Continue reading the entire interview on Shernaaz’s blog

26 Comments

  1. Eric Surkari

    My Deepest sympathies on the loss of your Dear Rustom. From the first time I met him through a cousin of his and a very dear friend of mine is Khurshed Irani. I was impressed with his strong sense of who we are ,his strong resolve of why we should continue with our beleifs and preserve the Tenets of our religion at all costs.And prevent with all might this so called modern day non beleivers who want change to suit their lifestyles . You will always have my full support and may AHURA MAZDA give divine guidance to you and all those who want to preserve this beautiful ZATHOSHTI Religion in INDIA like it has been for over a thousand years.

  2. Eric Surkari

    My Deepest sympathies on the loss of your Dear Rustom. From the first time I met him through a cousin of his and a very dear friend of mine is Khurshed Irani. I was impressed with his strong sense of who we are ,his strong resolve of why we should continue with our beleifs and preserve the Tenets of our religion at all costs.And prevent with all might this so called modern day non beleivers who want change to suit their lifestyles . You will always have my full support and may AHURA MAZDA give divine guidance to you and all those who want to preserve this beautiful ZATHOSHTI Religion in INDIA like it has been for over a thousand years.

  3. dubash

    In future, the Trusteeship will become hereditary and confined to seven families like Nav Kutum having exclusive rights in Iranshah.For the first time, heredity will be perpretrated in BPP thanks to Universal Frenchise.

  4. dubash

    In future, the Trusteeship will become hereditary and confined to seven families like Nav Kutum having exclusive rights in Iranshah.For the first time, heredity will be perpretrated in BPP thanks to Universal Frenchise.

  5. Mickie Sorabjee

    “TERMINOLOGICAL INEXACTITUDE”

    Contrary to her campaign assertion, the candidate has already let the community down. To quote a late world leader, she is accountable for “terminological inexactitude”. Anyone who promotes lofty ideals when standing for public elections must herself possess these qualities and practice them in personal life to uphold avowed integrity. Her irreverence of religious dogma is manifest by her act of accompanying/escorting a sibling to a local agiary and doongerwadi bunglee for religious rites with full knowledge of the said individual having renounced Zoroastrian faith to embrace Judaism before marriage in a Synagogue. Since this breach of a profound doctrine is directly in variance with the candidate’s much publicised views on religion in election manifesto, this can be deemed to be willful dishonesty and not credible trustee material. Some voters may interpret it as having played a fraud on a trusting electorate wrongly led to believe that the aspirant is a Chust Jharthosti.

    If elected, concealment of this profanity would be an acute embarrassment for the BPP. Can it be affirmed that preservation of pristine ethos will be safe under such a custodian of Doongerwadi properties? Her appointment on its Board would prove detrimental to the pending matter of cremate-ni bunglee filed in Bombay High Court, favouring the applicants/plaintiffs. This will not be digestible for the self-proclaimed Orthodox organization and pseudo-fundos promoting her. If her supporters continue to uphold her endorsement as candidate with “credentials beyond reproach”, it’s a reflection on the hypocrisy and manipulation of sentiments for short term gain that UAF has introduced in the community.

  6. Mickie Sorabjee

    “TERMINOLOGICAL INEXACTITUDE”

    Contrary to her campaign assertion, the candidate has already let the community down. To quote a late world leader, she is accountable for “terminological inexactitude”. Anyone who promotes lofty ideals when standing for public elections must herself possess these qualities and practice them in personal life to uphold avowed integrity. Her irreverence of religious dogma is manifest by her act of accompanying/escorting a sibling to a local agiary and doongerwadi bunglee for religious rites with full knowledge of the said individual having renounced Zoroastrian faith to embrace Judaism before marriage in a Synagogue. Since this breach of a profound doctrine is directly in variance with the candidate’s much publicised views on religion in election manifesto, this can be deemed to be willful dishonesty and not credible trustee material. Some voters may interpret it as having played a fraud on a trusting electorate wrongly led to believe that the aspirant is a Chust Jharthosti.

    If elected, concealment of this profanity would be an acute embarrassment for the BPP. Can it be affirmed that preservation of pristine ethos will be safe under such a custodian of Doongerwadi properties? Her appointment on its Board would prove detrimental to the pending matter of cremate-ni bunglee filed in Bombay High Court, favouring the applicants/plaintiffs. This will not be digestible for the self-proclaimed Orthodox organization and pseudo-fundos promoting her. If her supporters continue to uphold her endorsement as candidate with “credentials beyond reproach”, it’s a reflection on the hypocrisy and manipulation of sentiments for short term gain that UAF has introduced in the community.

  7. phiroz

    I believe the sister of Mrs. Tirandaz is married to a non Zoroastrian. How she could not prevent the same as she claims to be a traditionalist? If my memory serves me right, the said sister of Ms. Tirandaz was asked to leave a Dadar Fire Temple. WHY. If she is a traditionalist why she took her said sister to an Agiary. This incident appeared in news papers.

  8. phiroz

    I believe the sister of Mrs. Tirandaz is married to a non Zoroastrian. How she could not prevent the same as she claims to be a traditionalist? If my memory serves me right, the said sister of Ms. Tirandaz was asked to leave a Dadar Fire Temple. WHY. If she is a traditionalist why she took her said sister to an Agiary. This incident appeared in news papers.

  9. Anti Dhongidox

    Bawajis, be prepared for 2015,each Trustee of BPP will be ‘entitled” to nominate a member of his/her family to succeed him/her as BPP Trustee in the event of he/she becoming incapacitated or for any other reason. This seems to be a distinct possibility. After all it has to be all in the ‘Family”.BPP will be made to take such an ‘historic’ decision, mark my words.

  10. Mickie Sorabjee

    Thank you Believer In Truth. I couldnt agree with you more. Exactly my thoughts. But it would be for editor/s of our Parsee Press to oblige. May be if they read your comments, they might just be moved into fast action before this weekend’s elections. They would translate Terminological Inexactitude as simple lies. :-) Till then I will continue thinking in English which is my wont.
    Since you have made mention of it, it pained me to see a couple of priests from the candidate’s neighbourhood and more importantly present at the time of the agiary controversy, being flaunted in pix/backers list as her supporters(not signatories) by an unethical WAPIZ on their sponsored ad page, in all probability without the dasturjis’ consent. This could also be a cheap campaign ploy as a newbie sitting trustee happens to be a Trustee of the colony fire temple.

  11. Anti Dhongidox

    Bawajis, be prepared for 2015,each Trustee of BPP will be ‘entitled” to nominate a member of his/her family to succeed him/her as BPP Trustee in the event of he/she becoming incapacitated or for any other reason. This seems to be a distinct possibility. After all it has to be all in the ‘Family”.BPP will be made to take such an ‘historic’ decision, mark my words.

  12. Mickie Sorabjee

    Thank you Believer In Truth. I couldnt agree with you more. Exactly my thoughts. But it would be for editor/s of our Parsee Press to oblige. May be if they read your comments, they might just be moved into fast action before this weekend’s elections. They would translate Terminological Inexactitude as simple lies. :-) Till then I will continue thinking in English which is my wont.
    Since you have made mention of it, it pained me to see a couple of priests from the candidate’s neighbourhood and more importantly present at the time of the agiary controversy, being flaunted in pix/backers list as her supporters(not signatories) by an unethical WAPIZ on their sponsored ad page, in all probability without the dasturjis’ consent. This could also be a cheap campaign ploy as a newbie sitting trustee happens to be a Trustee of the colony fire temple.

  13. Mickie Sorabjee

    Dears all, thank you for your suggestions and support. I have my limitations where fliers and their distribution are concerned. This incident was revealed for the first time by JJW on 14 Jan, 2001. I have contacted parties concerned and now it is up to them to bring this to voter knowledge once again. I am hopeful our Parsee Press will do a responsible job in community service and not let fellow brethren down on their right to information. We can only wait and watch.
    High priests probably remember the embarrassment it caused them then when they had backed the candidate’s late husband who had lost both BPP elections held thereafter until introduction of UAF last year_ hence they have possibly refrained from public support for the wife in these bye-elections to fill his vacant seat.

  14. Mickie Sorabjee

    Dears all, thank you for your suggestions and support. I have my limitations where fliers and their distribution are concerned. This incident was revealed for the first time by JJW on 14 Jan, 2001. I have contacted parties concerned and now it is up to them to bring this to voter knowledge once again. I am hopeful our Parsee Press will do a responsible job in community service and not let fellow brethren down on their right to information. We can only wait and watch.
    High priests probably remember the embarrassment it caused them then when they had backed the candidate’s late husband who had lost both BPP elections held thereafter until introduction of UAF last year_ hence they have possibly refrained from public support for the wife in these bye-elections to fill his vacant seat.

  15. dubash

    In an undated personal letter couriered to ” Dear Community Members” this lady candidate hasraised the issue of injured innocence by stating that she did not think that her decision to stand for election would create ‘so much heat and dust’. Beg your pardon, lady. Who raised the heat and dust? It seems you do not glance FPJ every week and the ‘language’ used in the paid Advertisement of
    holier than thou (Hoodwinkers) Organisation flourishing due to sponsorship of an Ahmedabad based fascist.Yellow journalism is at its worst. This Organisation is destined to face the same fate as Nazis and Fascists faced.Please do not underestimate intellectual calibre of ALL Zoroastrians.

  16. dubash

    In an undated personal letter couriered to ” Dear Community Members” this lady candidate hasraised the issue of injured innocence by stating that she did not think that her decision to stand for election would create ‘so much heat and dust’. Beg your pardon, lady. Who raised the heat and dust? It seems you do not glance FPJ every week and the ‘language’ used in the paid Advertisement of
    holier than thou (Hoodwinkers) Organisation flourishing due to sponsorship of an Ahmedabad based fascist.Yellow journalism is at its worst. This Organisation is destined to face the same fate as Nazis and Fascists faced.Please do not underestimate intellectual calibre of ALL Zoroastrians.

  17. Mickie Sorabjee

    Afternoon Despatch & Courier has published MOMENT OF TRUTH on pg 11. Better late than never. A befitting reply to the chairman’s statement that “there is no pointed finger or accusing finger against her”. Happy reading.

  18. Mickie Sorabjee

    Afternoon Despatch & Courier has published MOMENT OF TRUTH on pg 11. Better late than never. A timely befitting reply to over zealous supporters. Happy reading.

  19. Mickie Sorabjee

    Afternoon Despatch & Courier has published MOMENT OF TRUTH on pg 11. Better late than never. A befitting reply to the chairman’s statement that “there is no pointed finger or accusing finger against her”. Happy reading.

  20. Mickie Sorabjee

    Afternoon Despatch & Courier has published MOMENT OF TRUTH on pg 11. Better late than never. A timely befitting reply to over zealous supporters. Happy reading.

  21. phiroz

    Ms.Mickie.
    Could you please arrange to reproduce “Moment of Truth” of ADC of yesterday as mentioned in your Post. Difficult to get back dated copies of this paper. If you can that is.
    Though Jame has done disservice to the community by not republshing 2001 Article, it gets the distinction of being immitated by a band of so called Zoroastrians claiming Tokham Kayani. Immitation is best form of flattery and Jame got the flattery. Such trash communications demonstrate that their Tokham is Ek Anny (One Anna).

  22. phiroz

    Ms.Mickie.
    Could you please arrange to reproduce “Moment of Truth” of ADC of yesterday as mentioned in your Post. Difficult to get back dated copies of this paper. If you can that is.
    Though Jame has done disservice to the community by not republshing 2001 Article, it gets the distinction of being immitated by a band of so called Zoroastrians claiming Tokham Kayani. Immitation is best form of flattery and Jame got the flattery. Such trash communications demonstrate that their Tokham is Ek Anny (One Anna).

  23. Mickie Sorabjee

    Phiroz,fyi it was an abridged version of my terminological inexactitude posted on this site on April 6, with some added material (para3) under the heading Moment Of Truth. If ASW graciously permits, this is the printed version in ADC for timely community attention_
    An interview of one of the aspirants for the Bombay Parsee Panchayet bye-elections was published in Afternoon – April 3:
    Ms. Armaity has already let the community down. Anyone who promotes lofty ideals when standing for public elections must practice what they preach.
    Contrary to her campaign assertion, her irreverence of religious dogma is manifest by her act of accompanying/escorting an immediate family member to a local agiary and doongerwadi bunglee for religious rites with full knowledge of the said individual having renounced Zoroastrian faith to embrace Judaism before marriage in a Synagogue.
    This is directly in variance with the candidate’s much publicised views on religion in election manifesto, this can be deemed to be willful dishonesty and not credible trustee material. Some voters may interpret it as having played a fraud on a trusting electorate wrongly led to believe that the aspirant is a Chust Jharthosti, an impeccable orthodox.
    Afternoon’s large Parsee readership is aware that many devout Mumbai Parsees are also forced to opt for cremation at the end of their life’s journey only because their non-Parsee spouse or a close non-Parsee member of the family would be debarred from entry into the Doongerwadi bungli where the last funeral rites of Paidast are held. This fundamental right as practicing Parsee Zoroastrians arbitrarily denied to them by the orthodoxy and priestly class in Mumbai alone. Yet here we have a candidate for the current Bombay Parsee Punchayet bye-elections, who has openly flouted this dogma. What message does it send to others? After this any future opposition to permission for a separate cremate-ni bungli for Parsees opting for cremation, by supporters of this candidate, is a total farce.
    Her appointment on its Board would prove detrimental to the pending matter of cremate-ni bunglee filed in Bombay High Court, favouring the applicants/plaintiffs.
    She and her supporters have no moral ground to preach orthodoxy and condemn opposition aspirant as being unorthodox. This disclosure proves the theory wrong that there is no controversy or accusation of any kind that can be pointed at their consensus candidate.
    Let the community come to judgment and pass verdict on false saviours.

  24. Mal

    Phiroz,
    The large sums of money spent by the candidate on the election was funded through Dinshaw Mehta, in collaboration with other trustees. It was an attempt for the above candidate to win the election and a seat in the BPP. Clearly when the the candidate has no experience in this field, what could possibly posses them to push for her? The answer is simple, to elimate the possibility of a veto, these dear “yes men” is what the BPP is built on.

  25. Mal

    Phiroz,
    The large sums of money spent by the candidate on the election was funded through Dinshaw Mehta, in collaboration with other trustees. It was an attempt for the above candidate to win the election and a seat in the BPP. Clearly when the the candidate has no experience in this field, what could possibly posses them to push for her? The answer is simple, to elimate the possibility of a veto, these dear “yes men” is what the BPP is built on.

  26. Mickie Sorabjee

    Phiroz,fyi it was an abridged version of my terminological inexactitude posted on this site on April 6, with some added material (para3) under the heading Moment Of Truth. If ASW graciously permits, this is the printed version in ADC for timely community attention_
    An interview of one of the aspirants for the Bombay Parsee Panchayet bye-elections was published in Afternoon – April 3:
    Ms. Armaity has already let the community down. Anyone who promotes lofty ideals when standing for public elections must practice what they preach.
    Contrary to her campaign assertion, her irreverence of religious dogma is manifest by her act of accompanying/escorting an immediate family member to a local agiary and doongerwadi bunglee for religious rites with full knowledge of the said individual having renounced Zoroastrian faith to embrace Judaism before marriage in a Synagogue.
    This is directly in variance with the candidate’s much publicised views on religion in election manifesto, this can be deemed to be willful dishonesty and not credible trustee material. Some voters may interpret it as having played a fraud on a trusting electorate wrongly led to believe that the aspirant is a Chust Jharthosti, an impeccable orthodox.
    Afternoon’s large Parsee readership is aware that many devout Mumbai Parsees are also forced to opt for cremation at the end of their life’s journey only because their non-Parsee spouse or a close non-Parsee member of the family would be debarred from entry into the Doongerwadi bungli where the last funeral rites of Paidast are held. This fundamental right as practicing Parsee Zoroastrians arbitrarily denied to them by the orthodoxy and priestly class in Mumbai alone. Yet here we have a candidate for the current Bombay Parsee Punchayet bye-elections, who has openly flouted this dogma. What message does it send to others? After this any future opposition to permission for a separate cremate-ni bungli for Parsees opting for cremation, by supporters of this candidate, is a total farce.
    Her appointment on its Board would prove detrimental to the pending matter of cremate-ni bunglee filed in Bombay High Court, favouring the applicants/plaintiffs.
    She and her supporters have no moral ground to preach orthodoxy and condemn opposition aspirant as being unorthodox. This disclosure proves the theory wrong that there is no controversy or accusation of any kind that can be pointed at their consensus candidate.
    Let the community come to judgment and pass verdict on false saviours.