"The wealth of a culture comes from the memory of its people… I would urge all of you here to record the memory,” stressed Dr Shernaz Cama, founder director of Parzor, when addressing members of the Parsi Zoroastrian Association of South East Asia (PZAS), Singapore on April 16, 2023. The gathering that included several youth had assembled to celebrate the 12th anniversary of their Zoroastrian House, marking the event with a jashan followed by Cama’s talk.
The ground plus two-storeyed structure in the India town part of the city that still maintains the old flavor of Singapore has been serving as a community center cum prayer hall since 2011 thanks to the largesse of PZAS past president Homiyar Vasania who offered it on lease to the community against payment of one dollar a month. It now also houses a permanent exhibition "The Joyous Flame” which offers a historical understanding of the Zoroastrian faith and the lifestyle of its followers through religious and cultural artefacts, models and panels.
Top: Homiyar Vasania, Burzeen Driver and Dr Shernaz Cama (1st, 2nd and 4th from l) with enthusiastic Parsis of Singapore;
above: audience in attendance and exhibits at the Zoroastrian House
For Cama, this invitation to the Zoroastrian House was particularly meaningful for she got an opportunity to visit the exhibition which she had curated during Covid with the assistance of Neeraj and Pallavi Sahai. Set up at a cost of SGD 50,000 (Rs 28,09,277), the museum that is spread across 1,200 sq ft on the ground and first floors of the Zoroastrian House was inaugurated in March 2022.
In her talk and presentation on "Care for Creation: the Zoroastrian Tradition,” Cama remarked that "respect for creation is a cardinal tenet of the faith. Our traditions and practices place a great emphasis on our link with nature.” Speaking on the significance of Avan Ardevisur, she mentioned how people in Iran continue to go to the springs to venerate the waters for "even if a religion may disappear, the culture remains.” On behalf of the Association, PZAS president Burzeen Driver presented Cama a book, The Parsis of Singapore as well as a memento.
While in Singapore, Cama gave another talk on "The Parsi Zoroastrians: Religion and Culture” at the Indian Heritage Centre on April 15. She was also taken to the Asian Civilization Museum to which textiles and miniatures have been donated by members of the Singapore Zoroastrian community. Several unusual exhibits include a bobble doll (mounted on a spring that bobs up and down) depicting a Parsi trader from China. Not just Parsi traders but trade along the sea routes from Persia to the Far East is depicted there.