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Iconic Zarathushti Award
This distinction was conferred on Fali and the late Bapsi Nariman as also on Dr Cyrus Poonawalla. The Award recognizes "a Zarathushti who has reached the zenith of achievement in a chosen field. The individual is one whom the community would instantly recognize as the epitome of a Zarathushti and happily project as a role model… combining all the traits of leadership, honesty, integrity, industriousness, hard work, charity and community work.”
One of the most respected names in the Indian legal system, Fali is a designated senior advocate, Supreme Court of India, and continues to practice law even at the age of 94. Erstwhile additional solicitor general of India, he has received the Padma Vibhushan, the nation’s second highest civilian award. His skill and eloquence have reverberated during his six-year term as nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament. Author of several books and innumerable publications, he was declared the Living Legend of the Law by the International Bar Association, London in 1995 and has been conferred several other awards like the Justice Prize by the Peter Gruber Foundation, USA. Viewing his religion as a source of deep inspiration, he counsels, "Belief in our faith is the thread that binds our small community together. We should not lose our character or our characteristics or the respect of millions of Indians. And above all, not lose faith in, or lose touch with Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Life and Wisdom.”
His wife Bapsi who passed away in 2020 at the age of 89 was a celebrated author of eight cook books, all bestsellers, including A Gourmet’s Handbook of Parsi Cuisine and Traditional Parsi Dishes. President emeritus of the Delhi Commonwealth Women’s Association and widely acclaimed for her charitable works, she had been declared the "Epitome of Empowerment” by the Guild of Service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erstwhile president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) Framroze Patel presented the Award to the Narimans’ granddaughter Khursheed who read out a message from Fali accepting "the Award with gratitude” while sharing a quote that "One begins to realize that one is getting old when the birthday candles weigh more than the cake.”
India’s vaccine king Poonawalla is chairman of the Poonawalla Group that includes the family owned Serum Institute of India (SII). Embarking on his journey to make affordable vaccines which were then unavailable in India in 1966, today SII is the world’s largest producer of vaccines by number of doses produced and sold globally. Annually producing two billion doses of life saving vaccines to combat infections as varied as measles, mumps and meningitis… rubella, rabies and rotavirus, SII’s mass production of Covishield vaccines greatly contributed to the fight against Covid-19. Besides donating millions of dollars’ worth of vaccines in areas where they are most needed, the philanthropist’s magnanimity has resulted in the creation of charitable schools, hospitals, public parks and the Pune Clean City initiative. For his exceptional leadership in safeguarding and improving public health, he was conferred the Dean’s Medal by the prestigious Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health four months ago and Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Oxford, UK in 2019. The Government of India presented him the Padma Bhushan this year. An iconic figure in the field of horse racing and breeding, Poonawalla is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
The Award presented by Congress gold sponsor Dinyar Divetre was received on Poonawalla’s behalf by Lord Karan Bilimoria. Thereafter when the Congress co-chair Arzan Wadia visited India, he was invited to the SII headquarters in Poona when he personally presented the trophy to Poonawalla.

 

Community Service Award
The two recipients of this Award were Dr Shernaz Cama and Edul Daver. This Award recognizes "a Zarathushti who has identified a local community (not limited to a Zarathushti community) need or issue and has provided effective initiative to inspire and pioneer meaningful change… and harness the time, talent and capacity of others.”
Director of the Parzor Foundation, Cama is co-chair, Zoroastrian Return to Roots and national director, Jiyo Parsi Programme, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. While researching for her doctoral thesis on Blake and Zoroastrianism she worked under the guidance of Prof Mary Boyce, professor of Iranian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. This led to a life-long determination to make known the importance of the Zoroastrian legacy towards which she has published books, made movies and collaborated with the Google Cultural Institute. She initiated the Meherjirana Library Programme at Navsari, worked towards UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)  declaring the 3000th Anniversary of Zoroastrian Culture in 2003-2004 and Navroz being accepted as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009. "The Seal of Excellence” from UNESCO was awarded to her for research in Parsi embroidery. An educationist by profession, teaching at the Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, she was the international coordinator for the Everlasting Flame international program in 2016, the largest ever showcasing of Zoroastrian history and culture.
In Cama’s absence, her award was received by her sisters Niloufer and Rukshana Shroff who thanked the organizers for "the tremendous honor given to our sister.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Founder director of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC), Daver was its global president from 2015-2021 when he initiated ‘Youngpreneurship’ to promote entrepreneurship among the youth, encouraged community socioeconomic projects, introduced the Zoroastrian Faculty Network and Zarathushti Entrepreneurship Development Foundation to fund budding entrepreneurs. Having served on the board of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) during its formative years, he was instrumental in raising funds for its new Dar-e-Mehr that was inaugurated in 2016. Erstwhile president of Alcan Metal Powders, he took the initiative to form ACuPowder International in 1995 and after its acquisition by Platinum Equity retired in 2012. His professional recognitions include IIT (Indian Institute of Technology)-Bombay Distinguished Alumnus Award; Metal Powder Industries Federation’s Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award; and Powder Metallurgy Association of India’s Fellow Lifetime Achievement Award.
Receiving a standing ovation when he was presented the Award by erstwhile FEZANA president Dr Dolly Dastoor, in his acceptance speech Daver thanked those who had nominated him for the Award, his parents Minoo and Meher Daver who "gave me roots and wings, the Doon School where I acquired confidence and a can-do attitude, wife Nilufer who made me sympathetic and empathetic,” other members of the family, the ZAGNY and WZCC fraternity and those on his rapid response team, particularly Nina Mistry. "Community service is a form of giving. The more you give, the more you get,” he reiterated.

 

 

Science/Technology/Engineering/Medicine Award
This Award bestowed on Dr Firuza Parikh recognizes a Zarathushti’s dedication to the advancement of science and efforts "to forge new roles for people and create opportunities for future generations.”
Having delivered over 20,000 babies for previously infertile couples, Parikh’s work has been featured on the front pages of the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and in over 1,100 international newspapers and magazines, print and online, including Time and Newsweek. Winner of a prestigious fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, on her return to India in 1989 she pioneered the field of in vitro fertilization at the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre and three years later was promoted as director of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Jaslok Hospital and visiting associate professor at Yale. Known to treat the poorest and the wealthiest with equal kindness, she has contributed to community causes such as the Jiyo Parsi program and is convinced "my patients are my strongest proponents and teachers.” Recognized with several awards by community and women’s organizations over the last 25 years, in 2021 she was conferred the Guardian of Health Award by the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Council, the Champion of ISPAT (Indian Society for Prenatal diagnosis and Therapy) Award, and the ET (The Economic Times) Healthcare Awards Icon of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although a scheduled speaker, she could not attend the Congress as she had tested Covid positive but was represented by her husband Dr Rajesh who received the award from Dr Ali Makki, past president of the California Zoroastrian Center. Rajesh appreciated he was married to a member of this "incredibly affectionate community… that has enriched my life and the life of the country and the world.” Describing Firuza as "a devout Zoroastrian who wears the sudreh-kusti,” Rajesh added, "Now and then she expects me to drive her to Udvada.” While she prays at the Atash Behram he sits at the beach and ponders on the strong winds that brought the community’s ancestors to India. Firuza, in turn, expressed her "deep gratitude to Ahura Mazda,” valued the dedication of the team at FertilTree and Jaslok Hospital, the encouragement of her parents, Sheroo and Minocher Sherdiwalla, the qualities of self-realization and hard work inculcated by Rajesh, and other mentors, institutions and family members who have inspired her.

 

 

 

Social Entrepreneur Award
This Award conferred on Zerbanoo Gifford, Ruyintan Mehta, and Zarina and Ronnie Screwvala "recognizes an individual or company that promotes social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance society and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner.”
Global in her vision and achievements, Gifford has contributed to the fields of human rights, politics, writing and philanthropy. As the first Asian woman in modern British politics, elected as a Liberal councillor, her vision led to alternative ways to make a real difference in the world. From directing Anti-slavery International to establishing the Asha Centre for youth empowerment in the magnificent Forest of Dean, the entrepreneurial woman who embodies her faith created a place of tranquility, beauty and hope where physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing are nourished.
On receiving the Award at the hands of Roshan Rivetna, erstwhile editor of the FEZANA Journal, Gifford spoke affectionately of her forebears: Her grandfather had put money into the Firuzgar Hospital in Iran. Her father Bailey Irani, founder president of the World Zoroastrian Organisation and president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe who would have enquired "Who is a social entrepreneur?” and on being told he/she is one who makes changes, would have probably told her "So you are a trouble maker!” Her mother Kitty would have probably given her an equanimous response, "The day will come and the day will go.” Valuing the community recognition, Gifford though was emphatic, that the day on which she received the Award would not be forgotten by her. "What makes me really proud is young Zoroastrians. You are my inspiration.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting philanthropic activities in India for the past decade, Mehta assists non-profit organizations like Dakshana Foundation that trains extremely bright students who come from underprivileged families to take the grueling Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for admission to the prestigious IITs in India. He is also one of the top donors to the Foundation for Excellence which supports bright engineering and medical students in India with tuition scholarships. Co-founder of Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), he has been involved in developing courses in essential soft skills like communications, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and financial literacy. Many partner universities in India such as several IITs, BITS Pilani, Sai University and others are using these courses developed at a substantial cost, completely free of charge. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, he currently serves as the president of the US chapter of IIT Gandhinagar Foundation, headed the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation and has for the past four years served as president of Wheels India Niswarth Foundation that supports key innovations in water and sanitation, and maternal and child health issues in India.
Receiving the award from Congress silver sponsor Toos Daruvala, Mehta recalled growing up in a middle class family in Ahmedabad under the influence of his mother Mehroo. Describing India as "a country that I love but where I never worked,” he mentioned that he subscribes to the Andrew Carnegie dictum: To spend the first third of one’s life getting all the education one can; to spend the next third making all the money one can; and to spend the last giving it all away to worthwhile causes. Acknowledging the support of his wife Monica, Mehta specified that among the many philanthropic causes, education, maternal and child welfare, are the ones he promotes.
Zarina and Ronnie Screwvala believe that lasting change is possible only when rural communities are motivated and empowered to take charge of their own lives, and are partnered with corporates, young urban India and government programs. Their Swades Foundation strives to empower a million lives every five or six years through a 360-degree development approach that encompasses health, education, water and sanitation, and economic development. They have succeeded in reaching out to over 2,700 hamlets across Raigad and Nasik districts of Maharashtra impacting over 748,000 people from 160,000 households, with 270 dedicated full-time staff and 9,000 well trained community volunteers. The couple began their journey toward this goal by founding SHARE (Society to Heal, Aid, Restore, Educate) nine years ago that metamorphosed into the Swades Foundation. They believe: "If not now, then when? If not here, then where? If not us, then who?”

 

Creative Art/Design/Literature/Culture Award
The sole recipient of the Award was Bapsi Sidhwa. This Award recognizes "an individual who has enriched society through his/her commitment to visual, literary, media, architectural or performing arts by excelling as a creator or performer, facilitating or promoting the artistic efforts of others or broadening community engagement in these fields.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized worldwide as one of Pakistan’s most distinguished authors, Sidhwa is now settled in Houston, USA. In 1978, when publishing in English was practically non-existent in Pakistan, Sidhwa self-published her novel The Crow Eaters. Since then, The Bride, Cracking India, An American Brat and Water have been published worldwide and translated into German, French, Italian and Russian. Her books reflect her personal experience of the Indian subcontinent’s partition and abuse of women. She has also written short stories and essays and worked closely with Indian-Canadian film director Deepa Mehta to make the films Earth and Water. Her literary creativity has been recognized with Sitara-I-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest honor in arts, as also numerous other awards and honorary professorships.
The Award was presented by Congress gold sponsor Rakesh Bansal. Accepting the honor on behalf of the octogenarian was her brother Feroze Bhandara, younger to her by 17 years who views her "more like a mother.” In her thank you message read out by Bhandara she exhorted the upcoming generation to strive for excellence. She counseled, "No matter what direction your life takes, I pray your compassion and social justice accompanies you.”

 

Diversity Award
The first two recipients of this newly constituted Award were Farah Bala and Michelle Mama. The Award honors "an individual, project, organization or institution for outstanding contributions to improving gender and racial inclusion, equity and diversity through research, education and increasing awareness and service.”
Bala is a consultant, coach and speaker whose agency Farsight is a leadership and organizational development consultancy that prioritizes Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Oppression (EDIA). She works with executives and teams globally, across industries, from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations and is also a faculty coach at multiple learning and development institutions like Yale University, Ford Foundation, Voice of America, New York Travel Festival. She is among the 50 recent immigrants from around the world featured in Umbrage Edition’s national award-winning book Green Card Stories. Her work as a theater performing artist, producer and arts educator for over two decades has enabled her to develop community building, social-emotional learning programs in New York City public schools and during international volunteering initiatives.
Receiving her Award at the hands of the 12WZC platinum sponsor Dr Shahriyour Andaz, Bala acknowledged that "I find myself lifted up by this community time and time again. When I moved here, my dream was to be on Broadway. Life happens when you don’t make plans for it.” Referring to the Congress theme "bridge building,” she believes that reaching out to others is the foundation for learning and continuing to grow. She gave her mother Gaver Bala credit for single-handedly raising two children by continuing to reinvent herself and being a link for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and veteran factual (non-fictional) producer/director with over 300 hours of television under her belt. Last year, she produced/directed the series Shine True about Trans and Non-Binary youth that was lauded by The New York Times, The New Yorker and Vogue. In 2022, she was nominated by the Canadian Screen Academy for Best Direction, Factual for the series. Among the other awards she received were the 2022 Critic’s Choice Award, Imagen Award and the MIPCOM Diversity TV Excellence Award. Two years earlier, she was nominated by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for a CSA (Canadian Emmy) for Best Direction in a Documentary Series for her episode of In the Making, a prime-time documentary series. Canada’s Drag Race is yet another top-rated series where she serves as executive producer. Her repertoire includes directing the History channel series Lost Car Rescue and producing two feature films: Your Beautiful Cul De Sac Home (2007) and 21 Days to Nawroz (2009) filmed in the north of Iraq exploring the lives of Kurdish women during the war.
Receiving her Award from ZAGNY president Khursheed Navder, Mama observed that with 1,200 Zoroastrians attending the 12WZC, "diversity is a buzzword.” Able to identify herself with "brown, queer kids,” she added, "I cheer them on like a proud Mama… At the end of the day it is how you make others feel that is important.”  Saddened that her uncle was in hospital following a stroke, she advised, "In the time available with you, hug your loved ones really close and let them know you love them.”

 

Rising Outstanding Young Zarathushti Stars Award
The five recipients selected for the Award were Tanya Hoshi, Parshan Khosravi, Mehrzaad Mogrelia, Ervad Sheherazad Pavri and Rishad Surti. This Award recognizes Zarathushtis in the 18 to 35 age bracket who after achieving high grades in academics and participating in extracurricular activities are viewed as outstanding by peers and have made substantial contributions to the local or regional Zarathushti community. Hoshi, Khosravi and Pavri were presented their mementos by Return To Roots (RTR) co-chair Aban Marker-Kabraji, the other two recipients being unable to attend the function.
Hoshi is a Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto. She is a lead producer at Shopify and was recently appointed as the head of Brand Marketing at RBC Ventures. Her award-winning productions have been viewed globally. She has secured over a million dollars in financing for her independent films which have been screened in prestigious festivals such as Hot Docs and TIFF, and acquired by CNN’s Great Big Story, NBC and Fox. Since 2018, Hoshi has been the lead coordinator for RTR, has participated in the Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum and the Seventh World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (7WZYC). In 2020, she was appointed as the first chief social media officer for FEZANA and was conferred the FEZANA Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her acceptance speech she impressed on the youth that community service opened pathways for her and urged the elders to continue funding youth programs.
As the California policy director for uAspire, Khosravi leads the charge for college affordability and accessibility through policy and systems change. A first-generation Iranian refugee and a former ESL (English as a Second Language) student, Khosravi has seen both the power of education as a mechanism of community empowerment, as well as the opportunity gaps and roadblocks that face nontraditional, low-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students. Chair of the Zoroastrian Youth of North America (ZYNA) and 7WZYC, he spends most of his spare time organizing activities for the youth within his faith community. He believes that one of the key elements to the preservation of the Zoroastrian faith and way of life is to establish an active and unified presence of Zoroastrians in the sociopolitical global landscape, and his mission is to create and preserve a voice for Zoroastrians.
In his acceptance speech, when thanking his family, friends and coreligionists, he specially referred to the "women in my life” — his mother, grandmother and Ferzin Avari, ZYNA co-chair.
One of the youngest to qualify as a Certified Financial Crime Specialist, USA in 2020 at the age of 27, Mogrelia initiated his own venture — MZ Consultancy in March 2021 to help companies unearth financial frauds within their setup. His specialization lies with detection of terrorist financing which occurs mainly through donations received by nongovernmental organizations from unknown sources and its tracking to ensure none of those funds are used for illicit activities. His expertise has seen him feature in the Top 30 Under 30 Emerging Industry Experts in the field of Financial Crime Prevention by Business Mint and 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs recognized by the Business Outreach magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 27 years of age, Bombay based Pavri is one of the handful of mobeds capable of performing the nirangdin ritual. After graduating in biotechnology, he was involved in a global ecommerce project. Since last year, he transitioned into data science and is looking forward to starting a career in London. He is a core committee member of the Empowering Mobeds program, a volunteer with RTR since 2017 and is currently the ambassador of the GenZandBeyond survey in India. He strongly feels the need to give back to the community to which he owes a lot and is always willing to support a good cause. "You are the future, keep it up,” was his message to the youth attending the 12WZC.
Founder member of the first ever Social Responsibility Cell of the Maharashtra government where he led strategy development and policy formulation, Surti’s foray in the development sector began when he was selected as a Fellow from more than 10,000 applicants in the Chief Minister’s Office at the Government of Maharashtra. In 2019, he was one amongst seven other Indians to be a part of the prestigious Professional Fellows Program of the US Department of State, posted at the Mayor’s Office in Philadelphia. Co-founder of the international PANI Alliance that aims to identify, build and advocate issues related to sustainability and climate change globally, he aspires to become a social entrepreneur who can revive the entrepreneurial spirit of Parsis.