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We hope to provide a safety net for those in need, giving relief to the distressed; and provide a diverse cultural and socioeconomic platform for our community to network… This is our opportunity to tell the community who we are and we are here to actually help and not just talk,” announced Neville Shroff, non executive chair of the Global Working Group (GWG) that met in Orlando on May 5, 2019. He was emphasizing the need to finalize the deed for the proposed Global Council of Zoroastrian Trust (GCZT) as a second arm for the GWG. Thus, whilst the informal networking of regional heads would continue through the GWG, the formalization through GCZT is meant to "facilitate banking transactions and funding mostly for our community in India. The formalization is also necessary from the administration perspective,” reiterated Shroff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When GCZT was first propounded by Bombay’s noted solicitor Burjor Antia at the last GWG meet in Bombay in December 2018, it was met with intense scrutiny. But after four months it received the green signal from the three largest pockets: The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI), Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) and the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) (see "Global support,” pg 39).
As amplified by Rohinton Rivetna of USA who too had collaborated on the GCZT, "The GWG… did not seem to be anchored; now … (it) will be rooted.” The GCZT is expected to "provide grounding” by setting up an office and staff for the existing GWG. Since the GWG only permits two representatives per region to attend its meets, GCZT will involve eminent members of the Parsi community as settlors, trustees and advisors.
Shroff will serve as chairman of GCZT for the first eight years. The need for a formal body was realized last year when Shroff used his good offices in Hong Kong to procure a donation of one crore rupees from a multinational corporation towards the assistance of aged mobeds and widows of mobeds in India. "An enormous amount of time, thought and effort has been put into this (GCZT) project” by Rivetna, Meher Bhesania (of Dubai), Yazdi Tantra (of India) and Antia, appreciated Shroff.
"Does the body (GCZT) need a vice chair?” enquired Alayar Dabestani who was representing Iran. Since those in attendance concurred that a vice chair would be an asset, a new post would be created. 
Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Xerxes Dastur was keen that the BPP, "the only democratically elected body,” and not FPZAI represent the Indian community on the GWG since it is the BPP "that is upholding the Zoroastrian flag in India for the last over 300 years.” Since BPP chairman and FPZAI president Yazdi Desai was trying to oust his fellow BPP trustees from FPZAI (see "Give peace a chance,” pg 24), Dastur wanted to ensure that Bombay, where reside the largest concentration of Parsis, was well represented on the GWG. Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust (WZOT), explained that it was the Federation representatives from each region who attend. "If circumstances change, we can review,” stated Tamboly. "You have representation through your chairman,” added Shroff. When Dastur enquired, as have others in the past, why WZOT from Bombay was represented, he was reminded that its unparalleled charitable work had earned it a seat on the GWG.

Welfare and research

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eighth World Zarathushti Youth Congress will be held in London in 2023. Only one bid, from the ZTFE, was received before the deadline, stated FEZANA president Homi Gandhi who was appointed chair of the Congress Selection Committee. FEZANA vice president Arzan Wadia declared that after the Seventh Youth Congress in Los Angeles this July he would write a white paper on organizing of youth congresses that would help future hosts. Afreed Mistry who served as the timekeeper for this GWG offered to share her experience of hosting the Congress in Canada and revealed the formula of starting on a Thursday and ending on a Sunday. Firoz Pestonji, chair of the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in Perth last year, felt the white paper should not be restricted to the Youth Congress but encompass the WZC too.
Seventy-eight nassessalars in India who earn between Rs 20,000 to 30,000 (USD 285 to 427) a month will each receive a monthly grant of Rs 7,500 (USD 107) from the Rs 80 lakhs (USD 113,940) assistance pledged by the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao (ZCFHCM). Three of the pallbearers live in slums. This is a marginalized profession that "nobody wants to do,” pointed out Tamboly. The Hong Kong association already assists nearly 480 chasniwallas with monthly grants of Rs 5,000 (USD 71). "That is nothing,” commented Dastur. "Are you (BPP) giving anything?” retorted Shroff, adding, "To make a change we have to take one step at a time.”
There are 75 full-time mobeds under 40 years of age, 65% of them earn between Rs 10,000 to 15,000 (USD 142 to 214) and 35% earn between Rs 20,000 to 25,000 (USD 285 to 356) a month, stated Tamboly. "The GWG should support the younger mobeds so that their income rises to at least Rs 50,000 (USD 712). In 30 to 40 years, we will be lucky if we have even a handful of full-time mobeds left to serve the 156 agiaries and atash behrams in India where the footfall keeps reducing,” he stressed. There are 23 students currently at the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) and none at the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute in Bombay. As conveyed to him by DAI principal Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, "if even one or two become full-time mobeds we will be happy.”
"My theory is that both mobeds and laity need to change their mindset,” observed Ervad Arda-e-Viraf Minocherhomjee, president of The North American Mobeds Council, who admitted that his family was financially comfortable because his father left full-time mobedi. Whilst his younger kaka (paternal uncle) Dastur Nowrooz Minochehr-Homji would commute by bus and cycle, his father could afford two cars, he cited the disparity. More than funds, the priests need lessons in public relations, leadership, how to talk to behdins, he advocated. It is wrong that funds for athornans are controlled by non-athornans, he stated.
"Every time we need money we approach the Hong Kong association. Have we asked others? The industrial houses of Tatas, Godrej, Wadias?” enquired Katayun Kapadia who serves as communications coordinator for GWG. Concurred Shroff, "The onus should not always be on Hong Kong…We should go round this table — FEZANA? ZTFE? BPP, in particular?” In light of the prior discussion that the Indian Federation and not the BPP should be represented on GWG, Bomi Patel, past president of FEZANA, interjected, "FPZAI, not BPP.” This earned a prompt response from Dastur, "You will have to wait till infinity as FPZAI doesn’t have funds.” Earlier Dastur mentioned that the BPP is "stuck in a cash flow situation. After six or seven auction of flats, the cash flow should start. On Doongerwadi alone the Punchayet has to spend four to seven crore rupees (USD 5,68,020 to 9,94,035) a year depending on the renovations required on the 55-acre property.” Of the 5,400 flats that the Punchayet controls, some are locked in litigation. Two hundred and eighty flats held by expatriates have been served legal notices, he noted.
"If there is a specific plan, we could raise a million dollars in North America in a year or two,” assured Edul Daver, president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce. He cited their experience of trying to raise the annual dues of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York by $ 50 that was met with opposition but when these same people were approached with a clearly defined project, they were willing to pay $ 5,000. Confirmed Gandhi, "The appeals for medical welfare are largely oversubscribed in North America.” Stressed Rivetna, "Develop an ethic for giving.” Advocating the model of "sustainable giving,” he urged every family in North America to donate $ 1,000 annually to the community. Terming it the "Garothman Account,” he offered to make the first contribution of $ 1,000 on behalf of his wife Roshan and himself.
A comprehensive research effort to "create a scientifically rigorous, globally comparable fact base on the current state of Zoroastrians” is being contemplated by a core team of Dinyar Devitre, Dr Rashna Writer, Ruzbeh Hodiwala, Toos Daruvala, Daver and Tantra. Besides obtaining demographic data, the Global Zoroastrian Research Study (GZRS) will seek to gather behavioral and attitudinal data to ascertain respondents’ views on their approach to religion and issues like mixed marriages, conversion, adoption. It will be conducted under the stewardship of Dr Sarah Stewart of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London in conjunction with Shalini Bharat of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. An initial estimate expected the cost of the online study, supplemented by offline surveys where required, to range between USD 350,000 to 450,000 (Rs 2,46,47,000 to Rs 3,16,89,000). Whilst the findings of the study were expected to create "a credible road map” for the future of the community, this project has been currently been put on hold for another study is being contemplated for the 12th WZC in New York in 2022.
The WZC organizers propose to document "a visual/pictorial history of Zarathushtis throughout the world” as part of their oral conservation project, "Living Zarathushti,” explained Wadia. They had sent out their proposal to Stewart and were awaiting a response from her. Pestonji referred to the efforts of Dr Pheroza Daruwalla of Sydney who recently completed her PhD on demographics. During the course of the GWG meet, Pestonji connected with her and when she was on speaker phone she indicated that she was willing to share her findings with the community.
The three biggest donors for the Return to Roots (RTR) program where each year youth in the 22 to 35 age group from the diaspora are brought to India to  understand   their  ethnic  roots,  are
ZCFHCM, WZOT and FEZANA, reported Wadia who serves as the RTR coordinator. BPP initially provided funds, but no longer although it does offer institutional support. When Dabestani enquired if the age limit could be extended to 50 years, Gandhi joked that once he retires as FEZANA president he will take up a similar project for those in the 36 to 90 age bracket.
The activities of the Zoroastrian Faculty Network (ZFN) that mentors students from India seeking guidance for overseas education were highlighted by Dr Behram Pastakia and Tantra. Tamboly mentioned that Singapore Polytechnic was offering an eight-week online course in entrepreneurship. Pastakia added that those in need of financial assistance could visit the online portal charitynavigator.org that lists 1.45 million organizations. Minocherhomjee was concerned that the Zarathushti youth "will become complacent. They will come to us and not become competitive. Provide them tools to further their spirit of adventure.” Gandhi mentioned that some Zoroastrian students from the US would like to gain work experience in India. Whilst the ZFN is currently focusing on students from India going to the West, Pastakia assured him they would explore "if there is a way. If we can’t find a way, we will make a way.”
The third Iranshah Udvada Utsav will be held from December 27 to 29, 2019. Those who need accommodation facilities in Bombay can avail of the arrangement by FPZAI president Yazdi Desai with ITC that has offered rooms at $ 60 per night.
The Organization for Resettlement of Zarathushtis that is being mooted to facilitate migrants to adapt to their new locales will receive support from regional representatives: Meher Panthaky and Fariba Paribi from North America, Malcolm Deboo from Europe, Farrokh Rustomji from India, Firoz Pestonji from Australia, Farida Shroff from Hong Kong, Meheraban Ardeshirian from Iran, Perzen Patel from New Zealand, Meher Bhesania from the Middle East.
The next meeting of the GWG will be held in Bombay on January 7, 2020.