Noshir Mehta told DNA that though none from the family is in the fray this time, his sister Anahita Mehta is actively campaigning for the Congress' official candidate
For the first time in five decades, Mumbai's powerful Parsi community will be left without any representation in the next Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) council.
Since 1969, when Rusi Mehta was elected to the BMC for the first time, it was the Mehta family which was representing the community in the civic body.
While Rusi was elected to the BMC for five terms, his son Noshir was elected four times. Noshir's sister Anahita too got elected to the council twice.
However, this time the ward (no. 216) Noshir was representing is being reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Also, none of the Mehta siblings are in the fray elsewhere.
The community, with a population of over 60,000 in Mumbai, has made immense contribution to the development of the city right from the very start—be it the legendary Pherozeshah Mehta, Tatas, Godrej or the Wadia family.
JB Boman Behram, who was the first to be elected to the mayoral post after its inception in 1931, was from the Parsi community.
Refusing to blame any political party, Noshir Mehta told DNA that though none from the family is in the fray this time, his sister Anahita Mehta is actively campaigning for the Congress' official candidate. "Our GenNext is mostly settled in US, Europe, Australia, Canada etc. and don't want to be in politics. They also feel that the community here is small, and Parsis itself in the council is not essential for the well-being of the community," he said.
Noshir, however, didn't hide the nostalgic feeling when he pointed out that the adjoining areas of Khetwadi, Grant Road, Warden Road, Bombay Central, Foras Road, Nagpada areas were represented by his family for the last 50 years.
Noshir recalled that his father had always told him and his sister that if they can't serve the people, it's better that they sit at home.
Both Noshir and Anahita still value the advise, and despite not being in the fray keep themselves busy taking up civic issues and helping out the needy. "Whether we are corporators or not hardly matter," he said.
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