CJI Kapadia calls upon Parsis abroad to help in nation building

Date

June 21, 2010

Category

News

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sarosh Kapadia has urged members of the Parsi community settled abroad to return to India and contribute to national development.

“I always believed that it is better to be a first-class citizen in India than a second-class citizen abroad,” said Kapadia, during his felicitation by the Bombay Parsi Punchayat here on Saturday.

Kapadia, who took over as Chief Justice of India on May 12 this year, said there was no discrimination in India and he felt that the Parsi community will flourish in the coming generations.

“The country offers an opportunity and it is wrong to say that in India we do not have opportunities. Our great nation has given me opportunities. I have not seen any discrimination,” he said. (ANI)

29 Comments

  1. phadke

    This is one of the positive lines i heard in last 6 months. Thanks a lot for sharing this.

    This is Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan. Full name.

  2. phadke

    This is one of the positive lines i heard in last 6 months. Thanks a lot for sharing this.

    This is Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan. Full name.

  3. malcolmrprinter

    Type your comment here… It is heartening to hear of a Parsi asking his or her community members to return home. India is after all out Motherland. With all her perceived faults, she is still our Mother. As a Parsi who returned home from the USA without any regrets, I am glad that another Parsi has given the clarion call to India’s prodigal sons and daughters to come home. Will they?

  4. malcolmrprinter

    Type your comment here… It is heartening to hear of a Parsi asking his or her community members to return home. India is after all out Motherland. With all her perceived faults, she is still our Mother. As a Parsi who returned home from the USA without any regrets, I am glad that another Parsi has given the clarion call to India’s prodigal sons and daughters to come home. Will they?

  5. fmistry

    Whislst I agree with Chief Justice Kapadia’s exhortation to Parsis to return to India to serve their homeland, as well as his statement that there is no discrimination against Parsis in India, I must disagree with his statement that Parsis who live abroad are second-class citizens.
    Many of the host countries in which we live have welcomed Parsis and Indians and recognised them for their talents and given them and their families a safe livelyhood. Most of us not only do well but thrive and reach positions of prominence. It is unfair to paint all countries with the same brush by saying that they discriminate against immigrants..
    Are there cases of discrimination, well yes, but they are small in number and many times a case of simple criminality. The same could be said for discrimination against persons of many minority religions and castes in India, but we still consider India to be a relatively tolerant country. Whilsts some persons and countries will always discriminate against outsiders, the same cannot be said for the USA and some Western countries.
    We are all very encouraged and happy to see economic conditions in India improve over the past 20 years, and many of us may indeed return to India, but not necessarily due to being “second class citizens” in our current host countries.

  6. fmistry

    Whislst I agree with Chief Justice Kapadia’s exhortation to Parsis to return to India to serve their homeland, as well as his statement that there is no discrimination against Parsis in India, I must disagree with his statement that Parsis who live abroad are second-class citizens.
    Many of the host countries in which we live have welcomed Parsis and Indians and recognised them for their talents and given them and their families a safe livelyhood. Most of us not only do well but thrive and reach positions of prominence. It is unfair to paint all countries with the same brush by saying that they discriminate against immigrants..
    Are there cases of discrimination, well yes, but they are small in number and many times a case of simple criminality. The same could be said for discrimination against persons of many minority religions and castes in India, but we still consider India to be a relatively tolerant country. Whilsts some persons and countries will always discriminate against outsiders, the same cannot be said for the USA and some Western countries.
    We are all very encouraged and happy to see economic conditions in India improve over the past 20 years, and many of us may indeed return to India, but not necessarily due to being “second class citizens” in our current host countries.

  7. Siloo Kapadia

    I totally agree! As it is the economies in the West are not doing all that great, it would be an excellent idea for us Parsees to relocate to India and bring our education and skills with us. Look at how so many people of Chinese heritage are living and working in China. We should strive to be more like Chinese than the gora wallahs. We can all make India a great country in Asia and the world, in fact one of the greatest!

  8. Siloo Kapadia

    I totally agree! As it is the economies in the West are not doing all that great, it would be an excellent idea for us Parsees to relocate to India and bring our education and skills with us. Look at how so many people of Chinese heritage are living and working in China. We should strive to be more like Chinese than the gora wallahs. We can all make India a great country in Asia and the world, in fact one of the greatest!

  9. Viraf

    I am a Parsi who would love to return to India and completely agree with the CJI’s statement about being a first class citizen in India. My question is, and can anyone answer it, do the Parsis with their enormous resources do anything to help their own in terms of networking and guidance for those wishing to return?

  10. Viraf

    I agree with the CJI too.  Just wondering have you thought seriously about returning?  If so can you give me any advice?

  11. Viraf

    I am a Parsi who would love to return to India and completely agree with the CJI’s statement about being a first class citizen in India. My question is, and can anyone answer it, do the Parsis with their enormous resources do anything to help their own in terms of networking and guidance for those wishing to return?

  12. Viraf

    I am a Parsi who would love to return to India and completely agree with the CJI’s statement about being a first class citizen in India. My question is, and can anyone answer it, do the Parsis with their enormous resources do anything to help their own in terms of networking and guidance for those wishing to return?

  13. Viraf

    I agree with the CJI too.  Just wondering have you thought seriously about returning?  If so can you give me any advice?

  14. Viraf

    I agree with the CJI too.  Just wondering have you thought seriously about returning?  If so can you give me any advice?

  15. Siloo Kapadia

    I agree 100%.  However it is easier said than done.  My husband tried for years to get a posting in India but we could not. It seems that there aer so many Indians and India-Americans that are desperate to flee this place (USA) that the competition was fierce.  The competition is now much worse as the American economy is literally collapsing.  We finally got a chance to emigrate to Singapore where we will move to very shorty. 

    Sarosh deekra, how about setting up an employment agency to help Parsis that want to return?  For most the problem is getting a job.  If you can do that, then many Parsis especially those in America will leave.  People lose their jobs here and they cannot find anything else.  So kei be kei kerr ne, deekra.  Nokree nu vat che. 

  16. Siloo Kapadia

    Kudos to you deekra!  A few years back many thought we were crazy for wanting to leave USA but now we are glad we did not give up hope.  We could not go back to India but we are goint to Singapore and that is fine.  USA is changing so fast and NOT for the better.  It is getting frightening to live here.  Anyway, bacha, we will be gone soon.  Yes, in answer to your question, I believe that MANY Parsis in USA will go back if given the chance, or go to another country.  You literally have to be LIVING UNDER A ROCK to not know what a DUMP USA is becoming. And it is not a matter of who is president.  This has been going on for 20 years now.  Each year things are worse.   I shudder to think what things will be like in another 20 years.  We are leaving for Singapore so sugnara kerooch.

  17. Siloo Kapadia

    I agree 100%.  However it is easier said than done.  My husband tried for years to get a posting in India but we could not. It seems that there aer so many Indians and India-Americans that are desperate to flee this place (USA) that the competition was fierce.  The competition is now much worse as the American economy is literally collapsing.  We finally got a chance to emigrate to Singapore where we will move to very shorty. 

    Sarosh deekra, how about setting up an employment agency to help Parsis that want to return?  For most the problem is getting a job.  If you can do that, then many Parsis especially those in America will leave.  People lose their jobs here and they cannot find anything else.  So kei be kei kerr ne, deekra.  Nokree nu vat che. 

  18. Siloo Kapadia

    I agree 100%.  However it is easier said than done.  My husband tried for years to get a posting in India but we could not. It seems that there aer so many Indians and India-Americans that are desperate to flee this place (USA) that the competition was fierce.  The competition is now much worse as the American economy is literally collapsing.  We finally got a chance to emigrate to Singapore where we will move to very shorty. 

    Sarosh deekra, how about setting up an employment agency to help Parsis that want to return?  For most the problem is getting a job.  If you can do that, then many Parsis especially those in America will leave.  People lose their jobs here and they cannot find anything else.  So kei be kei kerr ne, deekra.  Nokree nu vat che. 

  19. Siloo Kapadia

    Kudos to you deekra!  A few years back many thought we were crazy for wanting to leave USA but now we are glad we did not give up hope.  We could not go back to India but we are goint to Singapore and that is fine.  USA is changing so fast and NOT for the better.  It is getting frightening to live here.  Anyway, bacha, we will be gone soon.  Yes, in answer to your question, I believe that MANY Parsis in USA will go back if given the chance, or go to another country.  You literally have to be LIVING UNDER A ROCK to not know what a DUMP USA is becoming. And it is not a matter of who is president.  This has been going on for 20 years now.  Each year things are worse.   I shudder to think what things will be like in another 20 years.  We are leaving for Singapore so sugnara kerooch.

  20. Siloo Kapadia

    Kudos to you deekra!  A few years back many thought we were crazy for wanting to leave USA but now we are glad we did not give up hope.  We could not go back to India but we are goint to Singapore and that is fine.  USA is changing so fast and NOT for the better.  It is getting frightening to live here.  Anyway, bacha, we will be gone soon.  Yes, in answer to your question, I believe that MANY Parsis in USA will go back if given the chance, or go to another country.  You literally have to be LIVING UNDER A ROCK to not know what a DUMP USA is becoming. And it is not a matter of who is president.  This has been going on for 20 years now.  Each year things are worse.   I shudder to think what things will be like in another 20 years.  We are leaving for Singapore so sugnara kerooch.

  21. Barak Aga

    The ground realities in India are different. India has legislated affirmative action, and hence discrimination. Admissions to schools and colleges, and government employment is reserved for a certain sections society. In India in the private as well as public sector, promotions are based on caste, community, and religion. I know of a Kannadiga who was an employee of Tata Consultancy Services, and had to quit the company because the hold of the Tamilians in TCS was very strong. Tamilians were favoured over Kannadigas during promotions. The Honourable Chief Justice states that there is no discrimination in India. Then why is it that very frequently we read in the papers that lower caste communities have been attacked by higher caste communities for visiting a temple, or drawing water from a well? Why is it that in rural India, at tea stalls, upper class patrons are served tea in cups made from glass, whereas lower caste patrons are served tea in steel cups?

  22. Barak Aga

    The ground realities in India are different. India has legislated affirmative action, and hence discrimination. Admissions to schools and colleges, and government employment is reserved for a certain sections society. In India in the private as well as public sector, promotions are based on caste, community, and religion. I know of a Kannadiga who was an employee of Tata Consultancy Services, and had to quit the company because the hold of the Tamilians in TCS was very strong. Tamilians were favoured over Kannadigas during promotions. The Honourable Chief Justice states that there is no discrimination in India. Then why is it that very frequently we read in the papers that lower caste communities have been attacked by higher caste communities for visiting a temple, or drawing water from a well? Why is it that in rural India, at tea stalls, upper class patrons are served tea in cups made from glass, whereas lower caste patrons are served tea in steel cups?

  23. Barak Aga

    The ground realities in India are different. India has legislated affirmative action, and hence discrimination. Admissions to schools and colleges, and government employment is reserved for a certain sections society. In India in the private as well as public sector, promotions are based on caste, community, and religion. I know of a Kannadiga who was an employee of Tata Consultancy Services, and had to quit the company because the hold of the Tamilians in TCS was very strong. Tamilians were favoured over Kannadigas during promotions. The Honourable Chief Justice states that there is no discrimination in India. Then why is it that very frequently we read in the papers that lower caste communities have been attacked by higher caste communities for visiting a temple, or drawing water from a well? Why is it that in rural India, at tea stalls, upper class patrons are served tea in cups made from glass, whereas lower caste patrons are served tea in steel cups?

  24. Zarathushtri

    Hi Malcolm,

    You say you have returned home without any regrets and I am glad to hear that.  Can you tell me what experiences you have had in trying to gain employment in India?  Have you found any of the Parsi companies helpful to you as a Parsi or do you feel not?  I would be very interested to gain an insight into your experiences as I too am strongly considering the option of returning.

  25. Zarathushtri

    Siloo you state your husband tried for years to get a post in India but was unsuccessful.  Did the Parsi network not help him? Do none of the Parsi companies such as Tata, Godrej, SPJ etc etc help their own?  

  26. Zarathushtri

    Hi Malcolm,

    You say you have returned home without any regrets and I am glad to hear that.  Can you tell me what experiences you have had in trying to gain employment in India?  Have you found any of the Parsi companies helpful to you as a Parsi or do you feel not?  I would be very interested to gain an insight into your experiences as I too am strongly considering the option of returning.

  27. Zarathushtri

    Hi Malcolm,

    You say you have returned home without any regrets and I am glad to hear that.  Can you tell me what experiences you have had in trying to gain employment in India?  Have you found any of the Parsi companies helpful to you as a Parsi or do you feel not?  I would be very interested to gain an insight into your experiences as I too am strongly considering the option of returning.

  28. Zarathushtri

    Siloo you state your husband tried for years to get a post in India but was unsuccessful.  Did the Parsi network not help him? Do none of the Parsi companies such as Tata, Godrej, SPJ etc etc help their own?  

  29. Zarathushtri

    Siloo you state your husband tried for years to get a post in India but was unsuccessful.  Did the Parsi network not help him? Do none of the Parsi companies such as Tata, Godrej, SPJ etc etc help their own?