IX

 

INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITIES

 

 

Giving of oneself for the sake of the Good Creation is a cardinal tenet of the Zoroastrian faith.

"Parsi Thy Name is Charity" became a popular slogan and was reflected in the vast institutions built through Parsi Charities, their educational scholarships, medical charities, research awards and the large housing colonies or baugs built by the wealthy for community members.

It is time that a total quantification of Charities within and outside the community was done and their invaluable contribution to the economic, social, medical and educational fields of the nation was made available.

Parsi activists and reformers have served in all fields ranging from women’s causes to helping the disabled, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to sponsoring music, drama and the arts.

Jamshetji Tata’s view was that assistance should be provided in order to create self-reliant individuals, creating wealth for themselves and the nation through their own efforts and will.

Today, it is perhaps time to take a new look at some aspects of Charity and sociologically analyse its effects upon the community. While the psychological and material comfort and cushioning provided by Parsi charity has indisputably assisted individuals, community and national progress certain issues need to be raised.

Has Charity become a crutch? Should rarely used funds, sanatarioa and Lying-In Hospitals be put to better use? Does Charity cause dependence and refusal to work? Is the availability of Charity resulting in a lack of responsibility in the attitudes of some towards senior citizens, the sick and the physically or mentally disabled? A sociological and psychological study will reveal interesting facts and opinions.

The data on Parsi Charities can be compiled under various heads, this is by no means an exhaustive list.

 

INSTITUTIONS

MEDICAL CHARITIES

EDUCATIONAL/ RESEARCH ASSISTANCE

Institutions across India have been founded by the Parsis.

These include the Pirojsha Godrej National Conservation Centre, the Indian Institute of Science still better known as the Tata Institute, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute are some of the contributions.

Others include Bapnu Ghar, School of Industrial Art, the Industrial School at Sirur, Pune and the Rural Welfare Board.

Infrastructural developments such as the Lady Jeejeebhoy Causeway linking Bandra to Bombay, the Pune Bund and water works are also parts of Parsi Charities, as are the numerous wells, tanks, bridges built across Gujarat.

Panjrapols for sick animals, another institutions large and small.

The Bombay Parsi Panchayat Trusts and Funds founded in 1728 are one of the largest community donors whose charities encompass housing, medical aid, education, assistance to the elderly and even financial assistance to bring up a third child.

A list of the Trust Deeds of Parsi Charities can be created and the originals preserved on microfilm to help in quantification of this contribution to the nation.

The Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, the Tata Agricultural and Rural Training for the Blind, the Tata Blood Bank and Transfusions Services, the Tata Department of Plastic Surgery are some of the contributions to the nation from the house of Tatas.

At other levels, Parsis have established foundations of Civil Hospitals in many towns of Gujarat including the Christian Mission Hospital at Anand, Veterinary Hospitals, North India’s first Charity Eye Hospital at Delhi.

They have supported blind schools and training centres for the disabled taken active roles in the promotion of Helpage India, all of these being national Charities.

A large community medical charity is the Parsi General Hospital of Mumbai.

From village schools to High Schools in all corner of Gujarat, technical training centres, colleges and research awards, the Parsi contributions to Indian education and research is immense.

It is a matter of pride across the nation to be a "Tata Scholar" and the Tata’s research fellowships are coveted not only in India but also globally.

A collation and listing of all those who have benefited educationally through Parsi educational charities would be an indication of the value of this contribution in the building of Modern India.

 

 

 

HOUSING

RELIGIOUS CHARITIES

SOCIAL SERVICES

Community housing has been provided across Gujarat and in Mumbai through funds raised by individuals and business houses.

Housing or the lack of it is a very emotionally charged issue within the community and needs to be viewed with a balanced perspective by sociologists and other experts.

Ghambar Funds for Fire Temples and Madressas, charities for Priests and their families, charities for performing Mukhtad ceremonies are among some of the community charities among the Parsis.

Properties were often donated in order to provide for religious charity and individuals made specific donations for specific religious needs e.g. the Kathi Fund for providing wood to the Fire Temples.

The quantification of these charities is necessary and Trust Deeds of religious charities can be recorded and preserved.

The Surat Panchayat Girls and Boys Orphanages and Nariman Home, the Navsari Old Peoples Home, the Bai Maneckbai Jeejeebhoy Centre for Senior Citizens, Navsari run by the World Zoroastrian Organisation are some of the social charities provided within the community.

The Patuck Institute and Old Peoples Home at Mumbai, the internationally sponsored World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) assistance schemes to farmers and small entrepreneurs as well as priests are some of the social services offered throughout the community.

 

IX

METHODOLOGY

ACTIVITY

TECHNICAL ASPECT

TECHNICIANS

Collection and Collation of Data.

Collection of all books, articles, Trust Deeds, pamphlets and literature available.

Interviews, micro-filming, digitalizing, placing information on CD-ROM.

Quantifying as best as possible the total amount of charity and services to the nation.

Sociological study on the effect of charity with data to be provided as a report to the community, Trusts, Minorities Commission, HRD Ministry and TISS.

Analyzing the repayments of charity loans, the effects of aid for foreign study on migration patterns, support provided to an aging population, streamlining of disused funds if necessary.

This study will be both of academic interest and will also have a blueprint for action to improve the existing system.

Research, sociological data collection, quantification in economic terms, archival collection and collation.

Recording on Digi Beta and inclusion in CD-ROM.

Questionnaire on charity to assist sociological study.

Preparation of Report on Charities and other Institutions.

Social Scientists, Researchers, Data collection team of field workers, micro-film team, film-maker.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL ASPECTS

This will take into account costing for research and analysis, travel, collection and collation for the sociological report.

The archival costs of microfilming and digitalizing and inclusion in the CD-ROM

Cost of printing and dissemination of the findings of the Report