The Meherjirana Library in Navsari will undergo a complete restoration thanks to the efforts of the Delhi based Parzor Foundation. "The MPLADS (Member of Parliament Land and Development Scheme) of the government of India, is now working with the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), Baroda to restore the original building as per heritage norms. Once complete, both buildings (a new block was built with funding from the Sir Dorab Tata Trust) will be a tribute to the foresight of the Meherjirana family of priests who donated all that they had to make Avesta, Pahlavi, Pazend manuscripts available to the public and researchers,” notes UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Parzor Project honorary director Dr Shernaz Cama in a written update on the activities of the 12-year-old body and crediting Parzor executive council member Dr Kapila Vatsyayan for "taking an interest” in the restoration.
Dr Shernaz Cama
An international seminar will be held at Navsari tentatively in January 2013 through the efforts of scholars Dan Sheffield, Dinyar Patel and library chairperson Katy Antia and librarian Bharti Gandhi whose father was also the librarian for over 30 years. "We hope to be able to display our newly restored manuscripts and particularly the illustrated Shahnameh, a great prize of this collection. It has been restored through the help of Malcolm Deboo, president, ZTFE (Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe).”
In the same year Parzor intends to publish designer and Parzor textile consultant Ashdeen Lilaowalla’s Threads of Community, "a unique document of a wholly oral tradition.” The publication is being supported by the Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Trust, Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) and The Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and Macau.
Dr Niloufer Shroff handles a kor; (above left): volunteers Meher Kharas and Debapriya Das (right) at Parzor sale in Bombay
"The long-term plan for a permanent museum and archives of the Parsi Zoroastrians is in principle supported by the government of Delhi, FEZANA, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs. This huge project is UNESCO’s ultimate dream for the UNESCO Parzor Project, but unless we have the cooperation and help of Zoroastrians across the globe we cannot succeed in this,” notes Cama who is also on the executive committee of the Parzor Foundation established in 2001.
Another series of publications is planned on the research undertaken by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the community. This "valuable source material for sociologists and demographers” was under the guidance of Dr Armaity Desai who advises Parzor on demographic and heath issues. The studies were mainly financed by the Sir Dorab Tata Trust; the Bombay Parsi Punchayet funded "in part” studies pertaining to ageing and youth.
The Delhi District Commissioner of handicrafts has given Parzor "a small basic grant to start a permanent workshop ‘Parsi Karchubikam’ at the Zoroastrian Stree Mandal, Ahmedabad. This will be directed by SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) consultant Villoo Mirza in close coordination with our design team of Lilaowalla, head textile production and a member of the Parzor executive council Ava Khullar, and Debapriya Das, coordinator Parzor crafts. We had planned this several years ago but since the funding did not come up, had to keep postponing this project. We are therefore truly grateful to Zarine Cambatta and the trustees of the Zoroastrian Stree Mandal for keeping some space in their building for us.”
Parzor products are now being stocked at the Central Cottage Emporium in New Delhi and the newly opened museum shop at the National Museum. In the first and second week of March Parzor participated in a sale of NGO (nongovernmental organization) products "celebrating womanhood” at the Baaya Design Store at Bombay’s Lower Parel. "This gave us a chance to be exposed in Bombay. The sale was good,” said Parzor volunteer Dr Niloufer Shroff who along with volunteers Meher Kharas and Anahita Katila assisted at the shop. Terming their website unescoparzor.com as "our basic link to the world,” Cama notes the site assists them in disseminating information and photographs to researchers and others. Parzor sells its products through representatives across India and also online (e-mail parzorfoundation@gmail.com). "All our profits are ploughed back into research and we continue to use whatever monies collected to support Parzor Foundation. In the economic climate today it is becoming increasingly difficult to collect donations for a long-term project and this is an attempt, albeit very small, considering the cost of research, to finance our work. An online catalog is sent to any part of the world for those who are willing to place orders.”