Ervard Xerxes Vispi Dastur – FULL DISCLOSURE

This Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) election is a critical one. It will be a test of the Parsi community’s will to set right its apex administrative body – which has been the victim of continuing infighting and egos. Unfortunately, this has dragged the BPP and the community down.

It’s time for the young, apolitical, independent and professional-minded among us to step up and shoulder the responsibility under the Chairpersonship of Mrs. Tirandaz. The trust’s credibility needs to be restored. In spite of having nearly 3.5 years of my term left, I have now voluntarily decided to step down and save the community the cost of another midterm election. This was a promise I made and which I have fulfilled.

I feel elated that I have succeeded in fulfilling my election promise of changing the scheme of elections and implementing a code of conduct. The main changes I promised and have been able to successfully carry out are as follows:

1. Reduce the Term of Office for Trustees to 5 years
2. Maximum two terms for any Trustee
3. Any Inter se trustees’ legal disputes which go to court will be paid for by the Trustees personally and not by the BPP.
4. Having an independent election commission
5. No financial, food or other inducements to be given during the election to secure votes.

Now having a better understanding of the challenges which we face at the BPP and the community at large, I am confident of sustaining crucial changes to take our community forward. As such, your valuable mandate is sought for a second term, so I can carry on with the various initiatives already started.

Sublime values of hard work, honesty and dedication, were ingrained in me, by my parents, from a young age; they themselves having been brought up in a modest middle-class family. I did my schooling at Greenlawns High School, Breach Candy followed by a Bachelor of Commerce at H. R College, Churchgate and then finally passed my Chartered Accountancy exams in the first attempt.

My wife hails from our holy town Udwada. We have been married for the last 19 years and are blessed with two children Cyrus and Yohann. My son Cyrus was privileged to have been ordained a navar by Dasturji Aspandiar Dadachanji and Dasturji Khushroo Kanga at the Vatchagandhy Agiary

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

After completing the prestigious Chartered Accountancy exam at my first attempt, I have since been a practicing CA for the last 28 years at V. S. Dastur & Co. Chartered Accountants, which is one of India’s leading CA firms. V. S. Dastur & Co., are the auditors of various Parsi and cosmopolitan Trusts and corporate entities across India. I have been the Managing Partner of V.S. Dastur & Co. for the last 19 years. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to mentor new businesses each year as I am also part of the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN).

SERVICE:

My family has long been at the forefront of community affairs. One of my ancestors wrote the ‘Chaiye Hame Zarthosti’ anthem sung by our community to this date. My grandfather Shapoorji Dastur (Manjra) was the founder and principal of the J J School in Valsad. He also penned a thesis called, “Cyrus the Great and His Times”, which was published in later years. My father Ervad Vispi Dastur is also connected with various Parsi Trusts all over the country. He is an eminent Chartered Accountant who has rendered yeoman services to various Charitable organisations in his 58 year long career. He is a world renowned philatelist and historian, having authored two books on Indian Stamps Used Abroad and has been on the International Jury for various Philatelic competitions around the world over the years.

have worked extensively with the youth through organisations like the Xtremely Young Zoroastrians (XYZ) and World Zarthusti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) Youth Wing. I have nurtured and enjoyed working with teams that have delivered remarkable results in terms of community service. The ability to carry people along, is an important quality that has served me well whilst serving as the Chairman of the Mumbai chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC). This is a philosophy I bring also to my responsibilities as:

i)Trustee and the Chairman of the Managing Committee of The Ripon Club, (a 142 years old only Parsi Club in Mumbai); ii)Treasurer of Rustam Baug Welfare Association; iii) President of The Ness Wadia Memorial Pavilion and iv)International Board Member of World Zarthosti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC).

Thank you Sincerely

Xerxes Vispi Dastur

Source: Parsi Junction