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"The Parsi community should live as a joint undivided family if we want to survive in this fast changing world,” counselled Burjor Antia before stepping down as chairman of the Global Council of Zoroastrians Trust (GCZT) on January 8, 2024. "Addressing global issues requires collaboration and partnership with individuals and institutions who share similar values,” stressed his successor Neville Shroff, president of the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao, who has over the years served as the non executive chair of the Global Working Group (GWG), the second chamber of this bicameral Trust.

"Rejoice! GCZT is now a reality,” said their fellow trustee Meher Bhesania of Dubai who served as moderator for the first hybrid meeting of the GWG following the pandemic. Although the Trust had been registered with the Charity Commissioner on November 14, 2022, this meeting at the Banaji Atash Behram Hall brought together nearly 25 attendees including the three original settlors, six trustees, one trustee elect seven advisors and representatives of eight regions across the globe with the exception of Iran. The official launch of their website gczt.org and the logo with the motto "Strength in unity” the same day further reflected the working and initiatives of the Trust.

"It is a red letter day for all of us today where all regions are represented — Iran is with us in spirit,” stated trustee Rohinton Rivetna of USA who had long been endeavoring to form a world body for the community. "Working together for the prosperity of the worldwide community without borders is a momentous occasion to be recorded in the annals of history. Since the Fifth World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in 1990 it has taken us about 30 years to get here. The road has been long and hard,” he confirmed. He alluded to the initial efforts on the World Council of Zoroastrian Federations with the momentum from the late "Keki Gandhi, a hero of mine, Framroze Patel, Minoo Shroff, Dinshaw Tamboly…” This aborted initiative led to the Coming Together Round Table in London in 2005 with Dorab Mistry, Rusi Dalal and Malcolm Deboo, and the subsequent breakthrough with the formation of GWG in 2009 at the Ninth WZC in Dubai thanks to the leadership of Bhesania. According to him, the two pressing problems before the world body are to arrest the decline of our numbers and to make our mobeds leaders of our community.

Change of chairs

Both Antia and Shroff were presented shawls and bouquets. As GCZT treasurer Sam Balsara read the scroll of honor for Antia, he acknowledged the legal expert’s "endless hours of pro bono work in incorporating the Trust, to keep the community connected across the world. He did it with aplomb and patience.” The scroll further referred to his generous contribution [of one crore rupees to the Trust (USD 120,334)] and expressed "deepest admiration and respect for him… Despite his association with 25 other trusts — he is an admirable Parsi and a priest, a wonderful author and a sought after jurist for whom clients are willing to wait for  hours, days and months — he never made us wait.”

Antia responded saying he was "humbled with the honor. I have done nothing special. This is my style of functioning on every trust with which I am associated.” He further advised, "We should be excellent in every respect. We should live for others and not only for ourselves, serving the poor and needy for all time.” He regretted that many of the youth are not interested in the sudreh-kusti nor do they show a zeal to survive as Parsi Zoroastrians unlike our forefathers "who rose from zero to hero because of their dedication to their religion from childhood.”

The scroll of honor for Neville commended his professional, public and community service with Balsara adding, "The trustees could not have asked for a worthier successor than him. Neville is the pied piper for the Zoroastrian community. In times of any crisis, Neville is the first to extend a helping hand to get the project going.” Shroff considered it an "honor to take up this position… willingly and with humility.” He gave credit to his co-trustees for their dedication and perseverance and urged the regional representatives "to contribute with ideas, suggestions, advice, feedback to take the community forward. A lot still needs to be done.”

In his opening remarks at the 15th GWG, Shroff expressed his hope that "an electronically, digitally powered community… will function with transparency… improving lives for an equitable and sustainable future.” The community should bank on its "wealth of knowledge and diverse perspective for innovative solutions to complex issues.” Stressing on the need for harmony within the community, he reminded, "United we stand, divided we may not exist… Together we have the power to shape the future with encouragement and determination.”

Vice president of the National Minorities Commission Kersi Deboo who was unable to attend the meeting had sent a message commending the GCZT’s work "to help the Zoroastrian community throughout the world” and prayed that it "fulfils its aims and objects.”

Currently Yazdi Tantra serves as secretary. Brought in as advisors are Dr Rati Godrej, Noshir Dadrawala, Dorab Mistry, Homi Katgara, Adi Jehangir, Homiyar Madan and Tamboly.  

World congresses

The 13th World Zoroastrian Congress will be held in Singapore from December 27 to 29, 2026 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center, mentioned Homiyar Vasania who had joined in on Zoom. "We have just signed the contract and are excited about having a great and inclusive function for everyone in three years’ time,” he noted. 

Keen to host the 9th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (9WZYC), the Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation (ZYNG) had approached the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the bid from India had been made at the GWG meet in 2023, recalled BPP chairman Viraf Mehta. The youthful co-chairs of the 9WZYC, Sanaya Mehta and Zenya Pavri, and the vice chairs Jennifer Batliwalla and Burjis Zaveri briefed the GWG members on their plans for the Congress. They propose to hold the event in Bombay in end 2027 or early 2028, either at Taj Lands End or The Westin (Hotel) at Powai. They are expecting participation from around 800, with 400 from India and 400 from the rest of the world and look forward to "bring in more diversity and inclusivity.” Stepping into the post-Covid scenario where the youth are "technologically connected but socially disconnected,” Mehta hoped the outcome of the Congress will be "more fruitful than ever before.” The magnanimity of the community is best witnessed in Bombay.

Pavri mentioned they will discuss some of the issues facing the community like diminishing numbers and interfaith marriages. They plan to invite esteemed Zoroastrians like Boman Irani, Shiamak Daver, Ratan Tata, Nadir Godrej. They also propose to have a youth mixer and a young achievers event to recognize global talent. Events before/after the Congress could include a trip to Udvada and Sanjan. Besides the delegate fee they will need to print a brochure, approach sponsors to raise funds.

"Youth in London came with matrimony in mind,” observed Balsara inducing them to keep that in mind. Capt Percy Master, global president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC), recommended they include one session with the WZCC for the youth to do better in life. Arzan Wadia, president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, recommended that instead of using the term Parsi/Irani they use Zoroastrian as the Iranians otherwise feel marginalized. He felt that even though the air fares are higher during the Christmas holidays, the organizers should stick to that week because going into January or February would be difficult for the global youth. Chair of the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress in Perth, Firoz Pestonji wondered whether alternative venues could be considered instead of five star properties to bring down the costs. Another suggestion was to accommodate the youth with different host families which Wadia felt was "a perfect recipe for disaster with nobody showing up on time.” 

Reports by regional representatives and committee chairs will be carried in the next issue.