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To commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Firdausi Toosi, the venerable poet of Persia, a Shah Nameh Night was organized by the Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism (SSZ). This was the introductory program that set in motion the four-day SSZ conference held in Chicago from June 25 to 28, 2010. An initiative spearheaded by Dr Pallan R. Ichaporia and Rohinton M. Rivetna as a legacy of the World Zoroastrian Congress held in London in 2005, SSZ is a not-for-profit organization registered in Illinois, USA.   

Nearly 60 delegates registered for the fourth SSZ conference to gain from the presentations made by scholars from Chicago, Houston, Washington, Florida, Toronto, Norway, Bombay. The topics presented ranged from analysis and understanding of the scriptures, and demonstration and explanation of rituals to postulating answers to vexing questions of history and examining issues facing the present-day community and on the lighter side, anecdotal presentation of noted Zoroastrian personages. 

On June 27 and 28 the program began with a benediction led by Ervad Soli P. Dastur, projected on the screen in three scripts English, Gujarati and Farsi, with an English transliteration, recited by all together. As has been the practice we began our presentations with a monajat, hoping to revive a beautiful tradition which has fallen into disuse. At this conference, the Gujarati monajats were sung by Mani Rao. Before the full day sessions, each morning a welcome was given by Hosi Mehta, then president of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC) who has also served as co-chair of the FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) Welfare Committee for several years.  Then followed the introductory remarks by Rivetna and Ichaporia.

The general practice has been to have the younger generation chair the four sessions each day, for it is the youth who are the inheritors of our community, which this generation — variously called the greatest or the lost — will leave behind. Session chairs were Khuzaan Screwvalla, Tushad Driver, Arzan Lali, Cyrus Grant, Afshan Barshan and Bomi Damkevala.

Scholarly speakers and subjects

Panthaky of Bombay’s Mevawalla Agiary, a trustee of the Athornan Mandal, a member of the governing body of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute and honorary lecturer of Avesta-Pahlavi and Ancient Iranian Languages at St Xavier’s College, Ervad Parvez M. Bajan was the only speaker to make three presentations. The first night he spoke on the  "Life and Times of Firdausi,”  the legendary poet who is known to have penned the longest single poem written by any one person. Bajan’s second presentation on "Demonstration of Consecration Ceremonies for an Atash Kadeh” with visuals by Dastur and explanation by Ichaporia was of particular significance to North American Zarathushtis as they are embarking on the establishment of atash kadehs in North America.   

He had carried with him a complete set of all the liturgical implements required in a Yazashna Gah, for the performance of inner and outer liturgical ceremonies such as yasna, visperad, vendidad and baj, including a mortar and pestle, chalice, crescent-shaped stands, metallic wires, ring, knife, water vessels, etc which were donated to ZAC. Also on display was a copy of a Vendidad in Avesta script brought by  Dastur.

Following this presentation, his wife Bepsy Bajan gave a culinary demonstration of preparation of foods utilized in the baj ceremony and other liturgies:  paapri, malido, daran, chaapat, khaman, bhaakhraa… On the third day Bajan spoke on "Kiss-e-Sanjan: the Story of Exodus of the Parsis from the Iranian Plateau to the Shores of India.”

The other speakers who contributed to the morning sessions on the second day were Ichaporia whose subject was "Enigmatic Verses in Behram Yasht; Viiambura Demons with their Devilish Rituals.” He referred to Behram Yasht as the most popular among the Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrians for Behram is the deity who gives victory. In 1990 Martin Schwartz first brought to notice the "Viiambura” practices and tried to show its close parallel to the religious practices found among the Kafirs of Kafiristan in Afghanistan practicing the Kafir ‘infidel’ religion. Ichaporia’s paper validated Schwartz’s initial findings. 

Ichaporia obtained his DPhil in Ancient Iranian Languages and Culture from Mainz University and is assistant to Prof Helmut Humbach. Besides being an author of religious treatises he has contributed several articles to academic journals and is the Government of India Research Scholar, Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. With a PhD in Business Administration from Oklahoma University, he is CEO (chief executive officer) of Pharmaceutical Global Contract Company. At the SSZ conference he also discussed "Importance of Zoroastrian Diaspora” and its vital role in the revivification of the home religion. 

"Zoroastrians in Iran” was the subject chosen by Dr Jenny Rose who incorporated in her observations Mary Boyce’s experiences of Sharifabad as also that of a few other European scholars. A historian of religion, with a doctorate in Ancient Iranian Studies from Columbia University, Rose currently teaches classes on the Zoroastrian tradition in the Religious Studies departments at both Claremont Graduate University and Stanford University. She has published many articles relating to Zoroastrianism and is the author of Introduction to Zoroastrianism (forthcoming, 2010).

"What are the essential qualities of a ‘good’ priest?” enquired a questionnaire addressed to the priests and the laity. The responses offered by the priests were analyzed by Dr Michael Stausberg for his paper on "Qualities of the Ideal Priest: Contemporary Priestly Interpretations.” With a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Bonn (Germany) in 1995 Stausberg has been Professor of the Study of Religion at the University of Bergen (Norway). His publications include Faszination Zarathushtra (2 vols, 1998), Die Religion Zarathushtras (3 vols, 2002-2004) and Zarathustra and Zoroastrianism (2008). His book on religion and modern tourism is forthcoming with Routledge (2010). With Yuhan Vevaina he is currently preparing The Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism (2011).

Brig (Ervad) Behram and Zenobia Panthaki’s presentation on "Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: Soldiering with Zoroastrian Values” portrayed how the Field Marshal combined in him the qualities of a demanding senior officer, a strict disciplinarian and a commander who put the welfare of his officers, soldiers and their families before self, often staking his career to oppose his political masters. While he did not recite his kusti prayers thrice a day, he lived his life by the values of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, benevolence, courage and compassion as espoused in the Zoroastrian religion.  

Among several appointments during his military career, the one the soldier covets most was as ADC (aide-de-camp) to the Field Marshal. In 1994, after 30 years of service, Panthaki took early retirement to join his family in USA. A frequent speaker on Zoroastrianism at educational and interfaith organizations presently he is the director of Human Resources at The Kingsbury Center, Washington. Wife Zenobia presently works with the World Bank as a Resource Management Officer in the South Asia Region. As an Army wife, she had run adult literacy and welfare programs for soldiers’ families and when her husband was posted in North Bengal, she became the administrator of the Army School.

The objective of the session "Z-FAQs — Frequently Asked Questions: an Interactive Session” led by Kayomarsh P. Mehta was to help youngsters and elders better understand our religion and be able to explain our religion to others. A secondary purpose of this session was to project to the scholars/speakers topics that could be of interest to a non-scholarly audience of Zarathushtis as also subjects that were of relevance in our daily lives.  It was hoped that this session would stimulate others to participate in the religion classes on a regular basis. Past president of ZAC and chair of the Religion Education Committee for FEZANA, Mehta has formulated the universal Zarathushti Religion Education Curriculum and internet based Religion Education Lessons for young adults in North America. He is currently working on establishing an independent institution — Zarathushti Learning Center of  North  America — to disseminate the teachings of our religion. Professionally, Mehta is self employed and enjoys educating others in matters of personal finance.

The post-lunch session saw speakers explore the possibility of establishing a consecrated dar-e-meher in North America. In his paper on "The Evolution of Fire Temples from Iran and India to the Dar-e-Mehers of North America” architect Cyrus Rivetna presented a survey of the dar-e-mehers in USA and Canada, starting with the first in New York (1977) down to the most recent acquisitions by ZAPANJ (Zoroastrian Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey) in Mt Laurel, NJ and by Zoroastrian Association of California  in Orange County, California. A board member of the Center for Religious Architecture and Faith-in-Place, according to Rivetna, the challenge in North America is to build beautiful yet functional structures that fulfill our communal needs and also give expression to our spiritual aspirations.  

Kaemerz P. Dotiwala dwelt on "Trials and Tribulations on the Establishment of the First Consecrated Dar-e-Mehr in the Western World – from Dream to Reality.” A founder member of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) he has been associated with the ZAH Sunday School, Youth Group, Building Fund Committee, Fund Raising and Finance Committee. The ZAH representative to FEZANA chairs its Zarathushti Unity and Welfare Committee, is active in interfaith activities and has lectured widely. A former Senator of Syracuse University, Dotiwala is president of TexPenn which is in the business of recycling all types of petrochemical products. 

"Yes We Can Consecrate an Atash Kadeh Building and Dadgah Fire in North America,” affirmed Ervad Kobad Zarolia, president of the North American Mobeds Council (NAMC) and former president of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO). He is the founder president of the Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation (OZCF) that raised during his term 1.5 million dollars for the purchase of 10 acres of property for a future Zoroastrian temple and retirement homes. Regretting that in the last half century in North America the community does not have a single traditionally consecrated atash kadeh in North America he enumerated on the benefits that could be derived and how the NAMC can assist.

The third day’s first session commenced with a paper by Daraius M. Bharucha on "The Religion of early Achemenians; Mazdayasnis or not?” Spurred by the recent controversies and debates surrounding the Cyrus Cylinder, there has been a movement in some academic circles to attempt to dissociate the early Achemenians, and particularly Cyrus the Great, from any Zoroastrian linkage and instead depict them as secularists with adherence to no faith in particular. A lecturer and teacher of religion for 17 years, Bharucha did a BA Specialized Honors in Religious Studies from York University followed by a BEd before he took to teaching History and English at high school. He has also co-authored and co-edited two publications on Zoroastrianism and is a regular contributor and panel expert on "Insight,” a television show that examines current issues from a religious and cultural perspective.  

It was Parthian emperors who formed the base on which the renaissance of the religion took place under the Sasanians, pointed out Keki R. Bhote in his paper on "The Forgotten Role the Parthian Empire played in Recovering the Glory of Zoroastrianism.”  There was much contamination in the purity of Zoroastrian theology under the Achemenian Empire.  Then came Alexander and the various scriptures were put to the flame with only the remnants of the religion retained by the Zoroastrian priests orally.  There followed two generations of Greco-Macedonian rule which corrupted the religion even further before the Parthians, being very ecumenical allowed all religions in their Empire to co-exist and flourish, ordered the collection of all the documents scattered over the Empire, thereby saving the corpus of the Zoroastrian religion from extinction.

Founder president of the Zoroastrian Association of America which paved the way for future Zoroastrian associations in North America, Bhote is also founder of ZAC and currently president, World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), US region. Lecturer on Zoroastrianism and comparative religions, he is chairman of the FEZANA committee on "The Future of Zoroastrianism.” Keki and Mehroo Bhote, pioneers in the Chicago area since the 1950s were felicitated with a plaque at the SSZ conference "in recognition and appreciation of your outstanding scholarship and lifetime of service for the worldwide Zoroastrian community and your vision during our formative years in North America…”

Dastur’s paper "Fravardin Yasht” referred to the salient features of the 13th Yasht (Farokhshi) — a popular liturgy recited with afargaan and jashans. It is devoted to Fravashis, the guardian spirits. The longest Yasht with 157 paras has two distinct parts — the first describes the function of Fravashis to safeguard the whole world of Ahura Mazda against Anghra Mainyu and the second part is known in current mobedi parlance as "The Universal Nâm Gharan of the Zoroastrian community women/men stalwarts (279 in all) of ancient times” who helped to promote Zarathushtra’s religion. Zarathushtra’s birth is eloquently eulogized in this part. Dastur, a qualified navar, martab and samel from Iranshah, is an active member of NAMC, in charge of communications. He is an executive board member of the Zoroastrian Association of Florida (Miami) and its newsletter co-editor. After graduating in chemical engineering from the Bombay University and earning his doctorate from Northwestern University, he served for 30 years in Proctor and Gamble. 

This community needs a dedicated and a committed group of priests to teach, understand and express the true essence of the religion in these challenging times. The community must make an attempt to understand the lessons taught, adhere to the rituals and customs practiced, value the knowledge of the priests and translate their words of wisdom into actions, declared Shireen Havewala in her speech on "The Fate of our Faith: the Future of Zoroastrian Priests in Days to Come.” Havewala who works at the Henry L. Stimson Center, a think-tank based in Washington, graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, and did her postgraduation in International Studies and Diplomacy. Her main interests lie in public policy and political consulting. She has represented India at several conferences organized by the United Nations. 

When sharing his "Thoughts on Becoming a Mobedyar — Preparation and Ordainment,” Damkevala who was ordained as a mobedyar this year elaborated on what ceremonies he can and cannot perform, the expected level of knowledge of the history, doctrines and traditions of Zarathushtrian religion a mobedyar candidate should have, the required training, and the ordainment process. A community leader, Damke­vala has variously served on the ZAC board as its secretary, vice president and president.  Holding a BTech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and a masters degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology he is presently working as a senior project cost estimator at Sargent and Lundy, a Chicago based engineering consulting company.

Spitaman Tata’s presentation on "Thoughts on Gathas” was a simple interpretation of the main themes of the Gathas and their relevance to the day-to-day life of a lay person. Tata’s knowledge of Zarathustra’s teachings comes from both modern and older English interpretations of the Gathas, and the knowledge he has gained from Kayomarsh Mehta. Born and brought up in Jamshedpur, Tata has lived in the US for 30 years, mostly in Rockford, Illinois.

The wide divergence between  Assy­rian and Zoroastrian beliefs and practices was analyzed by Dastur (Dr) Kersey H. Antia in his paper on "Did Zara­thushtra Really Adopt Assyrian Beliefs as claimed by some Assyrio­logists?” He refuted the thesis by Simo Parpola who questioned the originality of Zara­thushtra’s teachings in the light of all but the 21st  stanza of Yasna 44 beginning with Zarathushtra’s interrogation: "What I ask you, tell me truly, O Lord (a formula commonly used in Assyrian culture)!” However, Zarathushtra lived in eastern Iran, spoke the Gathic language and the dates of his existence do not bear out Assyrian influence, maintained Antia who is respected as the high priest of the Zarathushti community in Chicago, having served as an honorary priest for over half  a  century.  Having  studied  religion and Avesta-Pahlavi under Dasturs Khurshed Dabu, Hormazdyar Mirza and other learned priests he has lectured widely and is author of numerous papers on religion and psychology. Antia is a clinical and management psychologist with a private solo practice in Illinois.

The half-day Roundtable meeting on the fourth day, was planned for follow-up actions and future directions for the SSZ; and for the academicians to coordinate their research and studies to make their work more meaningful to the community.

It has been a practice at these Conferences, as it is at most Zoroastrian meets, not only to indulge the participants in feasts for the mind but also in feasts for the palate. For four days, attendees enjoyed delicious breakfasts, meals and tea snacks prepared by ZAC ladies, especially Aban Daboo, Kiku Engineer, Roshan Rivetna and Dinaz Weber with help from Jo Ann Dastur.  

This conference like the earlier ones sought to revive interest in Zoroastrian studies by offering researchers and students a forum to present to the public their scholarship and study. In order to sow the seeds of learning among our younger generation, our youth especially are encouraged and mentored to prepare and present papers.  

SSZ mission and vision

It is easy to discern that for a religious community to sustain itself and grow, it needs, first and foremost a body of adherents (devoted practioners), priests (its shepherds) and the learned (who study, teach and keep it alive and vibrant). As the Avesta teaches us:  Yasnaicha, vah­maicha, kshnothraicha, frasastiacha — learn, contemplate, impart!  

The SSZ mission is to revive the tradition of scholarship within our community, to provide a platform for presenting research papers and to promote interaction among academicians, theologians (priests), educationists, lay scholars and practitioners of Zoroastrianism. The aim is to make SSZ a prestigious organization on par with scholarly organizations of other faith communities, and merit affiliation with international bodies such as the American Academy of Religions.

SSZ Conferences have been held in Chicago in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, hosted by ZAC with generous support from FEZANA and WZO.  

We contemplate the spread of these SSZ conferences to all locations where Zarathushtis reside in any significant numbers. Can one then hope that this would make our community more religiously and spiritually aware and begin to value one another however diverse our views? 

[Visit our fledgling website www.s-s-z.org which in time will become the repository of papers presented at SSZ Conferences worldwide.]

A livewire of North America and the prime architect of FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) Rohinton Rivetna served as its president for eight years. Later he spearheaded the founding of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce and served as its first president. He is now working towards bringing the world Zarathushti community together in the forum of the "Coming Together RoundTable.” His interfaith work through the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions and the United Religions Initiative has brought recognition and respect to the religion of Zarathushtra. Professionally, Rivetna retired in 1997 as director of environmental engineering at American National Can Corp and in recent years has actively pursued real estate development and building construction.