My reply (Armaity Tirandaz Chairman BPP) to email of Trustee Mr Noshir Dadrawala wherein he has decided to go on a Hunger Fast at the office of the BPP.
Dear Noshir
The Trusteeship of the BPP has been a long journey for me personally. I have had my ups and downs in the same way that you have. I believed that I could be a part of something greater than myself and have a positive impact on the well-being of our community. My husband Rustom had the same belief and dream and lived it to his last breath. In hindsight, I have never regretted any of my decisions or been perturbed by any of the brickbats that I have received over the years. I have accepted that the job profile comes with it.
For many of these years, I have spent in a voiceless environment, where you were part of the majority Trustees, who strong-armed myself and Viraf Mehta and didn’t even share the information of the trust. You are aware that Viraf and myself had to move the courts to rectify this illegal act of the majority trustees of which you were a part. It was frustrating to say the least as it was a needless exercise on your parts to keep us out of any concrete decision-making to many of the issues at the time. For reference, you can see my Facebook page and refer to my post “The year 2016 is at an end, where is the Transparency?.”, dated 29/12/2016.
I have interacted with many in the community over the years and I am grateful for their confidence in me and my abilities to perform my duties as a Trustee of this August body. Just as you I too have been given the Trust of the community by its electorate. I do not make use of any persons, personal media that I own or legal recourses to settle any personal scores, nor do I engage in any election propaganda, nor do I insult and point fingers as others. I have rarely voiced myself against a fellow colleague and have only on occasion had my say when a line was crossed. I have avoided giving any say in the Parsi presses and even gone to the extent to stop reading them altogether since quite a while now.
You have crossed the line with Kersi and your well orchestrated pressure tactics to sway my decisions are just sad and pathetic. The last meeting held on 12th October 2021 was a totally vicious well orchestrated, crass and uncontrolled was the behavior of the individuals who accompanied Hoshi Jal and Anahita Desai. Loud, insulting and unprecedented language being spewed to attack Trustee Viraf and myself, because they could not accept the proposal passed by Viraf and myself for postponing the elections. You said nothing to dissuade these individuals from using this kind of aggression and language. Some of these people have even spewed venom against me and my family over the years, but I know they are not worth replying to. I know just who these people are and who they are spokespersons for. I do not care to reply to them nor do they deserve my attention.
Contrary to your views, I myself believe there is merit in making amendments to the Scheme of elections for reducing the term of trustees from 7 years to 5 years and consecutive 2 terms only, as well as any other issues, which were already in a final draft made on 2016. And as you are aware these were accepted unanimously by all the trustees at that time, and this was to be placed for approval to the Courts. We have both observed this so called majority/minority Trustee play out over the years. But circumstances change and situations change and No one expected the Pandemic or the extent of its impact. But here we stand today with the opportunity to do what we had promised the electorate. This step will, in my belief bring about some peace in functioning of the BPP in the long run, and encourage some good candidates to stand for the elections of this apex body of the Parsi Irani Zarthosti community.
Today some of the Trustees are running down their own colleagues and community members and it is no different from the divide and rule policies employed by the British when they ruled India. Which intelligent and respected individual who wants to make a positive impact on society stand as a candidate?. Let us create that environment through our actions. You are also acutely aware of shortage of resources that the BPP is grappling with. Please note that the mayhem that was created that day was not very consistent with our Parsi Irani Zoroastrian culture and ethos, which is highly respected by the cosmopolitan society. I urge you to reconsider your stand and help us make this change.
Dear Noshir, I have been present on many occasions when you have threatened to resign and also tendered your resignations. This will be your third resignation and this will be your third apology to the electorate who has put their confidence in you and your abilities to be a steadfast Trustee of the BPP. As I said earlier, I too have had my ups and downs, but I have never taken such steps as I believe that have a strong will and character and need to stick the course as everything changes with time. In my mind and heart, I am sure and feel at peace with all my decisions. I have made all my decisions without malice or intention to hurt anyone. But just as in life you can never please everyone, and rightfully so, there will always be contrary views to your own. Each of us have a right to make our own decisions.
Your hunger strike is your own way of dealing with the issue and situation and it is of your own free will. No one can blame the other by emotional pressures and acts taken by their own free will. This attempt to transfer blame and trying to make me change my mind, feels like a pressure tactic, and is more than disappointing. If you are of the view that the resolution passed is bad in law you and Kersi are free to move the courts. And if you really wish to do so, I am willing to abide by their judgment in any case.
This ridiculous step of inviting community members to observe you go on a hunger fast at the BPP is not just childish but not mindful either. Who will be responsible for the BPP staff and their families who would be at risk of catching Covid. What about the School and the people attending to their duties there. Your said hunger fast or dharna feels like blackmail and will have dire consequences and makes a wrong precedent for the future. As per your email dated 14/10/2021 where you have stated that you wish to discuss the issue further on our Tuesday meeting then why the “Unholy Haste” to have your hunger fast.
Remember we are representing a questioning, mature and individual thinking population of free India. We should behave in a more mature and resolute manner with dignity. And if more dialogue needs to be done with regards to your resignation I am open to it.
Regards
Armaity Rustom Tirandaz
Chairman Trustee BPP
