Anahita Desai Speaks About Filing Her Nomination As BPP Trustee

On 19th January, 2021, Anahita Desai – popular candidate for the BPP Trusteeship in the oncoming elections in March 2021, formally filed her nomination.

Over the past three decades, Anahita Desai has proven her commitment and dedication to community service with honesty, integrity and wholehearted dedication, making a difference in the lives of innumerable underprivileged community members. A rare combination of a grass-root level worker and a focused leader, Anahita is driven towards the progress of the community, without compromising her principles. Known as a fearless upholder of religious traditions and community causes, she has selflessly devoted not just her time but also her personal funds to many community-related causes.

Speaking to Parsi Times, on the occasion of filing her nomination, she said, “Today I filed my nomination for the forthcoming BPP Elections. This time it is a very emotional time for me. I am contesting for my husband Yazdi’s seat as he resigned due to health reasons. His resignation was one of the most painful decisions of our lives. This is the start of a new chapter in my life.”

She further shared, “I have been asked why I am contesting the BPP Elections. My reply is simply this, that I am passionate about the wellbeing of our community and I have dedicated my time and much of my life, especially since 2000, to the community. My two-decade long involvement in community affairs is a testimony of my passion and dedication.

What I have realized, experienced and am convinced about, is that the post of a BPP Trustee allows one to do much more than is possible, than when one is working from outside the BPP. My husband, Yazdi, had a vision of what he wanted done through the BPP for our community. I share his vision and much more, and would like to make this vision a reality.

Some of my close friends and well-wishers wonder why I want to be a trustee despite the stress and tension of this political office, which affected my husband, Yazdi Desai’s health. My response is as follows – My husband was juggling a demanding job as a Director of a Company together with the responsibilities of being the Chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and was constantly dealing with the unpredictable and unsavoury politics prevalent in the BPP. I do not have any career obligations and responsibilities and I will have the luxury to devote my time to the office of the BPP, without the stress of juggling a career. I have battled two elections and I am acutely aware of the political dynamics in the BPP. I am standing as an independent candidate. I am consciously keeping away from any alliance or groupism. In fact, I am ready and geared up for the elections…with all the resultant work, campaigning and questions from the voters.

My candidature has been proposed by my husband Yazdi Desai and I am seconded by Karyesh Patel. He is the one who has stood as a rock with us during these difficult months, after Yazdi’s stroke. I am not someone you will see only at election time, but you will see me whenever and wherever there is a problem faced by our community and its members.

I believe in the Parsi Irani Zarthoshti Community, I believe in creating a fair and equity-based community where all our community members are treated as equals. I want to bring improvements to the workings of the BPP. I have dedicated my life to cater to the needs of our community members and this is the best way for me to serve our people and this is why I am standing for trusteeship,” concluded Anahita.

Here’s wishing her the very best in the elections!

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Berjis Desai Formally Files His BPP Trustee Nomination

On 21^st January, 2021, eminent solicitor, author and community luminary – Berjis Desai, formally filed his nomination for the BPP Trusteeship, in the oncoming March 2021 BPP elections.

In a detailed and self-explanatory letter, Berjis Desai shares about his earlier hesitation to file his nomination and his decision to finally do so:

Dear Co-Religionists,

My decision to file the nomination has surprised many. I owe it to explain.

After being an armchair critic of the Panchayet for most of my adult life, in 2008, I drafted the infamous Scheme of Election by universal adult franchise, a most unwise move according to some. Thereafter, I convinced eminent professionals to contest the elections with a view to transform the BPP, all of whom lost barring my friend, Noshir Dadrawala, who has now proposed me. After this botched up attempt, I meekly retired hurt.

Last year, I was part of the Core Committee to assist the trustees. It was then that I realised that it was necessary to shun one’s reluctance to get embroiled in so called ‘Parsi politics’ and the oft referred ‘mess’, in order to preserve our community assets and heritage. Several critical actions to safeguard and create precious community resources can be initiated only if one is vested with the legal capacity of a trustee, and not from outside. In Navsari, we have a saying, ‘aap moova vagar, swarg e nahin javaay’ (without dying first, one cannot enter heaven).

In the last few months, the bitterness and rancour in the BPP has escalated significantly. I was part of a team which tried to defuse the situation, when I further realised that direct involvement was required. Having regard to my long relationship with strong personalities on both sides, I do believe that I can at least minimise the stridency in the BPP and forge a consensus on most matters. However, what finally made up my mind were the two sad circumstanced vacancies, making it even more imperative to restore balance and peace.

I am confident that Anahita will make an optimal trustee. Apart from being an outstanding social worker, the presence of two ladies including the Chairperson, will soothe the charged atmosphere in the Board room. Women have more emotional intelligence than their testosterone oozing counterparts.

In the election, out of your TWO VOTES, please cast your vote first for Anahita. In any event, considering that this is a charity trustee position, I shall not directly or indirectly canvass or seek votes. Nor will I react to happy or sad or angry or nice messages on the social media. If the Lord so desires, I will serve, otherwise I shall have the satisfaction that I did not shirk my duty to the community and the Faith in these critical times.

If appointed, I shall give myself three years to see if I have been able to value add. If not, I shall make way for a more suitable person. In any event, when I turn 70, after a little more than five years, I shall leave, in keeping with the principle that 70 ought to be a cut-off date.

One’s personal views, whether past or present, are independent of his duty and obligation as a trustee. However, over the last few years, I have come to increasingly believe that if we are to survive as a community, we must preserve our uniqueness at any cost and not be swamped. Preserving and protecting our fire temples and Towers of Silence has become a primary passion for me. Rather late in life, I have a strong inner conviction that our traditional values have to be preserved. I shall not deviate in the slightest from any time honoured practice concerning our religious way of life.

 

It is my dream, however utopian it sounds, that if we can create a fund to finance a mini Parsi Welfare State, which provides attractive subsidies from cradle to grave; we will succeed in increasing Parsi births and reverse the demographic decline. The BPP can be that engine to spearhead this endeavour.

My only unique ability is my rapport with all the present trustees on the Board. I will use this and my 40 years’ experience, as a dispute resolution lawyer and a director of listed companies, to bring about some calm and peace, in the working of the BPP, if nothing else.

My decision making on every issue concerning any property or tenancy or any other commercial or legal matter will be based purely on merits, devoid of any bias, and irrespective of what any group or individual wants. Hopefully, we shall stop talking the language of ‘majority and minority’ and ‘factions and groups’ in the Board of Trustees. Lastly, we shall endeavour that the administration of the BPP becomes more generous, gentler and user friendly to the beneficiaries and the tenants.

This is not a position of prestige or power or honour. It is a duty and obligation of the most sacred nature to ensure that Parsi properties and funds are always safeguarded from threats, both external and internal. Every Trustee is a servant of the community. I consider myself on par with our Doongerwadi workers and will act as a humble instrument of the Cosmic.

I have gained immensely in my professional and personal life from being a Parsi Zoroastrian. It is now payback time. Our Religion, our priceless assets, our heritage and our very survival just cannot be permitted to be endangered. Humility, compassion and annihilation of the ego is the need of the hour. The following sums up my thoughts:

When the Light is so dim,

And the Times appear grim;

If all good men just standby and cry,

The Lord will ask, why you did not try.

 

Hence, my nomination.

Sincerely,

BERJIS DESAI