The Diamond Jubilee of the Bangalore
Agiani
and Fifty-Two Years of My Service
by
ERVAD NADIRSHAH P. UNVALLA
The Bai
Dhunmal and Cawasji Dadabhoy Dar-e-Meher which was founded 1926 by the late Seth Dinshaw Cawasji of
Khandala, completes sixty glorious years of its existence in January 1986.
It was my
good fortune, that I joined the service of this Agiari in August 1934, and have
continued so since then. I joined as an Assistant Priest, under my revered
father, from whom I received inspiration and experience of administering
various religious ceremonies and other duties towards the “Behdins” of
Bangalore.
During these
long years, my late father, Pestonji Unvalla, passed through very difficult
times to maintain harmony between people of divergent views. We both realized,
that to do the service in the name of the community and the religion, we
require integrity, courage and devotion to duty. We belong to Udvada, the place
of holy pilgrimage for Parses. We both shared the same staunch Orthodox views,
and age long religious customs. Sometimes, we were disheartened, but we faced
all difficulties and opposition with the courage of our convictions, and hard
work.
After
accepting the Panthak of Bangalore, my revered father was able to establish with
the help of the late Seth D. Cawasji and others, four big institutions in
Banglore. Today, the worth and value of these institutions has grown
tremendously. In 1927, the Aramgarh sadly lacked a prayer hall or even a
compound wall. My father got these built. In 1932 the Lady Kothari Memorial
Hall came into existence, with the munificent donation of the late Sir Jehangir
Kothari of Karachi. This hall came into the control of the Anjuman, thanks to
the persuasiveness of the late D. Cawasji and my father.
In the year
1937, the Anjuman thought of building a Tower of Silence, in which again my
father gave his best efforts and spent a number of years to the completion of
this project.
I feel that
it is not inappropriate here to mention the controversy concerning the Tower of
Silence and Aramgarh. In brief, I can outline this old history. In 1936-37, the
majority of the Parsis were eager to have this facility and their number was
rapidly increasing in Bangalore. Among them were the late Sir Hormusji
Adenwalla, the late Seth P. N. Mehta, Seth D. Cawasji, Mr. Nusserwanji Dinshaw
Mr. Ardeshir Hakim, Mr. N. Pestonji, Mr. Faramji Colah and Dr. Jamshed Patel.
The Anjuman resolved to collect funds and established a Committee to do
so. They acquired land, and also obtained
the necessary Permission from the Government to establish a Dokhma in
Bangalore. My father was appointed Hon. Secretary to this committee. The late
Mr. D. Cawasji as President, and the late Dr. T. P. Kapadia as the Hon.
Treasurer. Within a short Period of eighteen months, this committee was able to
collect Rs.1,25,000/- and secure a valuable plot of over fourteen acres of land
in Hebbal for Rs.6,000/-. This has
appreciated in value a hundred fold. The construction of the Tower and Bungli,
was started in December 1938 and everything was completed in record time of
fifteen months, at a cost of Rs.70,000/-.
After the
Tower of Silence came into existence, an unhealthy controversy took root, which
lasted for nearly five years. The
matter went as far as the law courts. But with the passage of time, that
bitterness and hostility settled down, leaving the Parses of Bangalore still
divided into two factions. However, gradually they have come to forget their
differences, and joined hands for the Common good of the community.
The
narration of the above episode is necessary here, because during the time that
this project was undertaken, my revered father and I, together with our whole
family, suffered much criticism, even brickbats and insults, because we remained
unshaken our staunch beliefs in the Zoroastrian faith and its traditions.
During the
year 1956-67, the Dharamshala came into existence, thanks to the munificent
donation of the late Burjorji and Banoobai Entee, This project came up with the
help Of the late Mr. E. K. Palia, Mr. Dhunjishaw Manekii and again my father.
Then in the
year 1969-70, the Kathari Hall Annexe Building was constructed. This project
was ably handled by our present President, Mr. B. S. Sidhwa. In this, I worked
hard along with him, so that we were able to give shelter to nine needy
families.
With the
Passing away of the previous
President, Mr. E. K. Palia, his son and
then trustee, Mr. Phiroze Palia made a contribution to put up a small office
block at the southernmost part of the Agiari compound. The rent thus obtained is utilized for the
maintenance of other properties.
After my
father's demise, I was appointed the Panthaki of the Bangalore Dar‑E‑Meher
in 1965. Since then I have performed my duties as Panthaki, which included
performing various ceremonies, delivering lectures, imparting religious
knowledge to Parsi children and expounding our religious beliefs and customs to
various groups of non-Parsi visitors, from India and abroad. Amongst them, I give presentations regularly
to the students of comparative religious, at the United Theoligical
College.
In my
experience, I have often seen that in every Anjuman, the Panthakis must follow
the instructions of the Trustees. I agree that the Panthakis and their
assistants are the paid employees of the Anjuman, hence, the duty of the
Panthaki abide by the instructions of
the Trustees, so long as they do not violate our religious commandments and our
own conscience. The Panthaki’s duty is to guide the members of the community,
advise them in the right direction, visit individuals in their hour of need or
distress and in doing so, if I have overlooked some instructions, because they
are in opposition to my own convictions, I ask to be excused.
My late
parents, Mobed Pestonji and Meherbanco, inculcated in me, a strong sense of
dedication and duty, and I would not have been able to continue in the service
of this Agiari for so long if I were not supported by them and my brothers
Faram and Jamshed, along with my sisters Gool, late Piloo, Dhun, Nergish and
Banoo. After my marriage, my devoted wife Manijeh joined hands with me to carry
out my various tasks and duties. I owe my grateful thanks to all of them.
In the end I
must mention, that during these sixty years many people have given their
service as assistants priests. I would be failing in my duty, if I do not
mention a few of them, like the late Noshirwan Unwalla, Manekshaw Bhadha,
Shiavax Bhadha and Jamshed Bhadha. Now retired or working elsewhere are Ervad
Mormugii B. Unvalla, Bhikhaji D. Sidhwa, Shiavax Sidhwa, Tehmurasp Anklesaria
and Fali Dastoor. Presently, we have since the last eighteen years, Ervad
Janshed Chinoy to assist in all matters.
I owe my
special, thanks to my brother Jamshed, who has assisted both my father and then
me, during the last fifty years, without any remuneration. So also I place on
record my gratitude to my three sons, Adil, Yezdi, and Khurshed, and my nephews
Aspy, Cyrus, and Nowroze Antia, for their willing help in carrying out my
duties towards the Agiari.
The Anjuman
is also fortunate in having had two Parsi helpers in the late Naoroji
Todywalia, and presently Jamshed Pastakia, who has a long and faithful service
of over thirty years.
Finally, I
would like to thank the past and present Trustees of the The Bangalore Parsee
Zoroastrian Anjuman who have always respected my views and many a time have
taken me into their confidence to manage the affairs of the Anjuman. I am deeply indebted to my benefactor Mr.
Kali Cawasji, Bai Alumai D. Cawasji, and Dr. Tehmurasp Kapadia who has inspired
me to render my service responsibility and sincerity.
To all those
friends and well-wishers, who freely gave of their time and effort towards the
success of the Diamond Jubilee celebration and the fund raising for this
occasion, I owe my thanks. Special mention should be made of Mr. Homi Jijina,
though far away, was most helpful.
I pray to
the Almighty that the Parsis of Bangalore may flourish and lead a life of
service in the Zoroastrian way. May the younger generation be united in
marriage within the community and keep the Zoroastrian flame alight always.