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"Why do we presume that if they can’t speak, they can’t understand? Why do we presume to know their cognitive levels or what they are capable of in life? Who are we to judge?” These rhetorical questions concerning those on the autism spectrum were raised by CNN’s (Cable News Network) first global ambassador Parisa Khosravi in her speech on "Unlocking endless potential” at the 18th North American Zoroastrian Congress (NAZC) in Houston in December 2024. When delivering the Prof Kaikhosrov D. Irani Memorial Lecture that celebrates excellence, leadership and profound contributions to the global community she repeatedly reinforced to the assembly that perception should not be mistaken for reality. 

As senior vice president for international news gathering, national news gathering and global relations at CNN Worldwide, Khosravi has been credited with directing historical coverage of pivotal events from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the Rwandan genocide, the 9/11 New York Twin Tower attack, terror strikes in Bombay and the Arab Spring, giving her opportunities to interact with the heads of state and the church. After nearly 30 years with the CNN she resigned in 2015 to help those who are misunderstood find their voice, declaring, "Our passion and calling evolves and sometimes changes.”

When Payam, her non-speaking son on the autism spectrum was able to break free from the walls of silence at 14 years of age, she discovered that he was "wise beyond his years.” Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.

After years of experimenting with different study methods, public schooling, private schooling, home schooling, what worked best for Payam was the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) wherein he was taught to use the alphabet board to spell each word as he formulated sentences to express himself. To Parisa’s delight, from the very first session, Payam indicated that he understood everything the teacher was saying and started answering. She admitted, "I watched in disbelief and my sceptic, journalist mind kept asking questions to double, triple and quadruple check how much he had understood,” whether it was 3D printers, Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, Cyrus the Great’s reign, nationalism and globalization. He sailed through calculus, advanced calculus, and retains around 99% of what he hears.

Parisa has since opted to create awareness about autism for "silent champions” like her son to ensure their voices are heard. "People are not born leaders. We become leaders by how we respond and handle ourselves during difficult times, how we choose to apply lessons that life has taught us,” she believes.

When Payam was invited to share his thoughts at the United Nations in 2019 and the previous year he had readied a speech on "Rethinking Autism and Therapeutic Approaches,” he explained how it feels to break through the shackles of silence. It was Parisa who read aloud his speech while he remained seated in the audience. As conveyed by him, "Silence gifts you and the mind spaciousness. I had the space to truly observe. Everything is a pattern — language, linguistics, spelling, it’s all patterns. The thing with autism is we as people see the patterns others may miss.” 

While keen to help others too derive benefits from RPM, Payam forewarns, "Please don’t underestimate the level of hard work this takes. Many hours of practice helped me develop my eye-hand coordination and visual skills to accurately point to letters and numbers. It is incredibly taxing work for us so please be kind, patient and encouraging. My communication partner has to keep my busy body and drifting mind in sync at all times. Teaching each individual to purposefully harness movement should be the central focus from a young age.

   Top row: Payam receiving music lesson; communicating with the help of an alphabet board; 

   2nd row: happy childhood with parents Goodarz and Parisa

"Dealing with our chaotic nervous systems will wear on you,” wrote Payam. "Understandably. We are persistently pushing ourselves against the biological makeup of autism. Empowering us will give more motivation and hope as our delicate sensory systems (most impacted by noise and smell) and misfiring motor system continue to impact our ability to achieve autonomy. Just below our exterior autistic selves lie intelligent young individuals many of whom are internally exhausted…” 

Payam has reassuring words for parents and caregivers: "Appreciate that your children have unusual gifts that require time to harness. Don’t lose hope that your child will grow and prosper like all others. They will with the right supporters, patience and most importantly confidence in their abilities. Respectfully I ask you to withdraw your expectations, willfully accept your child…and skillfully find ways to work with your child to make sure (his/her) opinions or needs are understood.”

In his message of love and inclusion written by an "unruly body, a mouth that disobeys,” Payam states, "My dream is for the entire world to abolish the pain those experience from unnecessary judgments because of each person’s unique differences. People need to recognize how their attitudes are negatively impacting our growth... My symbol of hope would be the shooting star because… although they seem rare, in reality they are only hidden among many others.” 

The mother looks forward to seeing Payam’s first book published. Rather than have it self-published, she is happy that a British agent who has shown interest in Payam’s work is currently determining a genre for it. She considers his writing "deep and beautiful and expects to see it taught in philosophy classes.”

Even while he is now able to express his thoughts and feelings, Payam remains a non-verbal or non-reliable speaker (one whose spoken words do not always match what he/she is trying to say). Reading fine print or flipping pages of a book is not easy for him. That is when audio books come in handy.

"One in 36 children in the US is on the autism spectrum,” Parisa informed the NAZC gathering, further recommending, "Address autistic individuals directly. They are in there, listening. Feed their brain with rich, new content. Always presume competence. Businesses should employ them. Don’t perceive them as threats because of their expressionless faces. They want to be impacting members of society. If Stephen Hawking had not been able to communicate (after a degenerative neurological disease left him paralyzed at 21 years of age, the physicist used a speech synthesizer to speak in a computerized voice), one of the most brilliant minds would have been locked. Education is our pathway to liberation. They are the teachers, we are the students. Many of them will become problem solvers of the future.”

"Family is everything”

In all her talks attended or viewed by Parsiana, Parisa is always seen wearing an asho farohar around her neck. We were able to get a glimpse into her personal life and views on religion during a WhatsApp video interview on February 15, 2025 when she revealed that an asho farohar is special to her for her first such pendant was bought for her by her grandmother. They were required "to visit a Zoroastrian jeweler in Iran and place an order for it was not readily available then unlike present times where it is seen in innumerable shops and worn by many, whether Zoroastrian or not.”

Having left Iran in 1979 when she was 13, Parisa remarked, "I have lived through the revolution, experienced my own life change dramatically. When leaving for the US, we did not know it would be for good…” Over the years her perspectives have evolved as an immigrant, journalist, mother…

"Being a mother was one of the most challenging responsibilities I had” for after Payam was diagnosed as autistic at age two she didn’t know what to expect, she had admitted in her Ted Talk in 2017. In her determination to see that "he reached his full potential, whatever that may be,” she would expose him to continual learning, news, travel, and encourage participation in all sorts of activities, music, swimming, horseback riding… while ensuring he was nourished with the healthiest diet.

The telephonic interview with Parsiana, coinciding with her dad Ardeshir’s third death anniversary, an emotional Parisa acknowledged that she got her work ethic from him. Having started his professional life as a teacher, he proceeded to become "a trailblazer” when after 1,400 years he was the first from a religious minority to serve as governor of a region in northwest of Iran. Leading a disciplined life, his day would invariably start with an exercise routine even if running late. "He was known for his impeccable reputation, commitment, honesty and insistence on doing the right thing.” She gave her mother Parvin credit for being a positive, optimistic person. "While she worried for my safety when I was out on field work, she never held me back,” appreciated Parisa. 

"Family is everything. They have been very supportive when I was immersed in my very demanding job.” While her mother now resides mainly in Atlanta, "initially she would regularly come down from Chicago to look after Payam. My younger brother Kambiz has been my rock. He quit his job saying he would be investing in Payam for the next few years, taking him to therapy and class.” When speaking at the 17th NAZC in Los Angeles 10 years ago, Parisa had mentioned that the first Sunday of each month is special to her and her husband Goodarz for that is the day they set aside for charity as advised by the priest officiating at their wedding ceremony. "Curretly, Goodarz, Payam and I do charity work on a regular basis though not necessarily on a certain day,” stated Parisa.

Preoccupied with her professional and personal responsibilities over the years, Parisa has not had an opportunity to interact with the local Zoroastrian associations in cities where she has resided although she has twice represented the Zoroastrian community at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Toronto and Chicago when she was invited as plenary speaker.

Through her limited liability company Payam Global Strategies, a consultancy concern focusing on compassionate leadership, Parisa shares her knowledge in five domains: crisis management, global affairs and diplomacy, communication strategies, journalist safety and security, and of course autism and advocacy research. For speeches made at Zoroastrian assemblies or to aid those dealing with autism, she does not charge. "Not all families are open about autism. Through all these years I’ve learnt that the best source of information are other parents with similar challenges,” she stated, adding that after her talk at the 18th NAZC, three families with sons in the same situation as hers approached her. She was happy to share contacts and information with them. "I find joy in amplifying voices, ensuring that voices are heard.” 

To Parisa, "The beauty of our ancient religion lies in its simplicity. I don’t have to go to any particular place to do my religious duty. The goal is to live and be a good person. Respect those who walk the walk and not talk the talk. Our parents raised us to be good people and to help others.”

Bemused by the customs in India where outmarried women are unwelcome in some fire temples, Parisa recalled the time she was visiting the country. The Zoroastrian lady who accompanied her to the fire temple, being married to a non Zoroastrian, told a shocked Parisa to enter the fire temple while she waited outside.

Payam means message in Farsi. "He is my heavenly message. He has been my ultimate teacher in life. I have tried to live my life according to pendâr-e nik, goftâr-e nik, kerdâr-e nik (good thoughts, words, deeds), three simple yet all-encompassing values and principles. Payam likewise uses good thoughts to spell out good words on his alphabet board to advocate good deeds.”

Udvada High Priest, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor spoke on "Propelling Zarathushti Resurgence” on the third day of the 18th NAZC. As soon as the fourth Iranshah Udvada Utsav drew to a close on December 29, 2024, he flew to Houston. Giving the High Priest credit for "connecting tradition with contemporary insights,” Ervad Khushrav Nariman, chairman of the Bhandara Atash Kadeh Management Committee, in his introduction to the keynote speaker, revealed that Dastoor "has a special relationship with Houston. He guided and advised us when setting up the Bhandara Atash Kadeh,” the only dar-e-meher in North America to have a perpetually burning wood fire.

"Progress is the most salient trait of the Zarathushti character…our hope for the betterment of our future. Never can we let die the past. For when heavily weighs on us the dead hand of the past, it hampers our progress,” Dastoor quoted the words of Dastur (Dr) Maneckji Dhalla from his book Homage Unto Ahura Mazda. He further recalled Dhalla’s plea to the Wise Lord, "Inspire us to dare and do what our fathers did in their days. Embolden us to face and fight obstacles and hardships. Enthuse us for hard and strenuous effort to move with the times. Help us to further the progress of our community even by a fraction of a footstep each day that we live upon earth and keep ourselves abreast of progress.” Very clearly then "revival should start in us, with us and through us. It is our individual task to make a difference,” asserted Dastoor.

 

"The truth is, all religions change and they must do so if they have to survive and if they are to be meaningful to the practitioner in this changing world,” stated Dastoor. "People all over are increasingly turning to spirituality, and there is a growing trend toward the ‘spiritual but not religious’ label… Is Zoroastrianism headed towards a change of face? Or is it that the Zoroastrians of the 21st century aspire for transformation to escape extinction?” Do Zarathushtis need to introspect?

According to him, "Change in customs can be allowed for the sake of preserving the faith, provided that they are undertaken within the framework of the tenets of the religion.  I understand that many in the diaspora are faced with the dilemma of deciding which is more important and worth preserving: a Persian bloodline or the teachings of our Prophet.”

Through its long history, Zoroastrian doctrine has been variously interpreted, absorbing various influences and adapting to the changing realities and needs of the community. "When the first Persian emigrants landed in India, the navjote ceremony was traditionally performed at 15 years of age. It eventually was changed to age seven which reflects that social changes take place with time and circumstances.” He referred to part-time priests in the West who choose "to shorten, modify and add meaning to the rituals they perform in their new environment. Nothing wrong with that! But, for the religion to revive, what we as a community need is standardization, uniformity, consensus and an educated, knowledgeable, meaningful and necessary change in structure, not change for the sake of change but change for the sake of survival!”

In his view, "the smaller but more homogeneous Zoroastrian community in Iran, with its limited number of priests and social leaders, has been involved in the survival of its heritage rather than in religious disputes.” Generally, Iranian Zoroastrians believe in following the Gathas or the philosophy of Zoroaster for moral guidance while the Parsis in India turn to rituals. 

For the majority of Zoroastrians in the Indian subcontinent the "us” are those born into the faith and the "them” are everyone else. But in the diaspora "us” are those residing on their continent and "them” those living elsewhere, he stated. "The way ahead is to get rid of these iron curtains and unite as a community working together towards our very survival.” He delineated the four salient features of the Mazdayasni religion enshrined in the kusti prayers: fraspayaokhedhram (removal of strife and struggle), nidhasnaithishem (peace and non-violence), khvaetvadatham (self-realization) and ashaonim (righteousness).

He appreciated that the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) contributes towards "keeping alive the flame of the Iranshah.” Since six dar-e-mehers have come up in North America in the last eight years, he urged the US community to raise funds to look after mobeds that serve the dar-e-mehers. "Your population numbers will overtake ours in India. You should not reach the same situation as in India where the mobeds are not looked after… If we fail to revive the priestly class, I am afraid we are not going to get beyond a few more years as Parsis. We are in dire need of religiously educated and motivated priests who can inspire and take this and the future generations to a religiously safe harbor.”

Zoroastrianism has become "a religion of convenience,” with its ideology readily twisted to suit different members of the community, observed Dastoor. He advocated the need "to authorize a world Zoroastrian body to take a consolidated approach. Initially Iran lost its authority to Bombay. In the years to follow that authority was challenged by the diasporic community. What we need is one world body that will act as a link between co-religionists around the globe.” This body could help strengthen the sense of racial solidarity; preserve and spread the social, economic, cultural and religious heritage of Zoroastrians; facilitate the free exchange of ideas between Zoroastrians across the world; and promote education and research facilities. 

He alluded to Dhalla’s comment about all communities being "hydra-headed. They have their orthodox and their reformers, fanatics and sober-minded persons, visionaries and men of common sense, mystics and rationalists, hypocrites and sincere persons.” Dhalla’s prayer to the Almighty read, "Save me, my Savior, from bigoted narrowness and sectarian exclusiveness. Let me not live according to the letter of religion, but according to its spirit. Let me wisely see that there is much that is wrong and it has to be righted. Let me always unswervingly aim at accuracy and truth in my research work. Let me always strive to be just to those with whom I differ. Let me put myself in the place of those who differ from me and know and understand their views that I may be tolerant and forgiving in my dealings with them… Zarathushtra, the wisest priest of my religion, does not forcibly exact implicit, mechanical obedience from me to his teachings. He does not impose his prophetic yoke on my thought, but leaves me freedom of thought to exercise my will freely.”

Reiterated Dastoor, "The world needs to see Zoroastrians as a unified force, not one that is tearing itself to pieces over labels. It saddens me to say that the fight amongst us is clearly not about the tenets of the religion or its preservation. It is about pride, power and prejudice.”

The sessions on the second day of the Congress commenced with a talk by Prof Miguel Angel Andres-Toledo, the FEZANA Professor of Zoroastrian Languages and Literatures at the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. The subject of the FEZANA Jungalwala Lecture that he delivered was "O Youth of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds and Good Religion: Young Zoroastrians from the Past to the Future.”

The talk being sponsored by The Khorshed F. Jungalwala Fund, Khorshed’s daughter Ferzin Patel gave credit to her late mother: "As a proponent of Zarathushti youth development and commitment to nurturing future generations, she empowered me as an 18-year-old to organize the First North American Avesta Conference.” Known to build bridges between Zoroastrian associations, Jungalwala believed in "inculcating openness, humility, courage, acceptance of non-doctrinal beliefs in the youth who are the torchbearers of Zarathushti resurgence,” added Patel. 

She then proceeded to introduce the morning speaker Andres-Toledo who offers courses at the University of Toronto on Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Persian (Pahlavi) and Zoroastrian Literature of Ancient and Late Antique Iran. Having contributed to projects like the Avestan Digital Archive and the Middle Persian Dictionary Project, his expertise in these subjects is respected by the community.

Quoting from the sacred texts like Hadoxt Nask, Visperad, Aiwisruthrem Gah, Srosh Yasht, Andres-Toledo cited passages where the youth are alluded to.

Hadoxt Nask 2.11-14: "I am, O youth of good thoughts, good words, good deeds of good daena (conscience), your own daena. Everybody loved you for that greatness, goodness, fairness, sweet-scentedness, victorious strength and freedom from sorrow in which you appear to me.” 

Dadestan I Menoy and Arda Wiraz Namag likewise stated: "I am not a maid but your good deeds, O youth of good thoughts, good words, good deeds, of good daena.”

Hadoxt Nask 2.18 and Vistasp Yasht 64 states that on passing away, "bring him spring butter to eat. This is food of the youth of good thoughts, good words, good deeds, of good daena…”  Hadoxt Nask 2.36 refers to offering "poison and poisonous stench… to the youth of evil thoughts, evil words, evil deeds, of evil daena.”

Visperad 3.2-3 refers to installing in his ritual place, "the priest… warrior… husbandman… herdsman… master of the house… headman of the clan… headman of the tribe… lord of the country, youth of good thoughts, words, deeds, of good daena that rightly pronounces the texts.”

Aiwisruthrem Gah 7-8 (sunset to midnight) makes reference to venerating all the professions cited earlier as also "the youth of good thoughts, words and deeds, of good daena and the youth that rightly pronounces the texts as righteous lord of righteousness.”

The final reference was made to the Srosh Yasht Yasna 57.13 which states, "We venerate Srosh, the righteous, well-formed, victorious, furthering the creatures, as righteous lord of righteousness, the strongest among the young ones, the bravest among the young ones, the most active among the young ones, the swiftest among the young ones, the most dreaded afar among the young ones. Strive, Mazdeans, to perform a yasna to Srosh, the righteous.”

While the morning sessions on the first three days of the Congress invariably included lectures or panel discussions, the evenings ended with levity.

The fare for the first evening sponsored by Nazneen and Kershaw Khumbatta included items presented by Rhythm India, one of the largest Bollywood Dance Companies in Texas. Founded in 2005 by Arzan Gonda, over the years Rhythm India has been invited to perform Indo-Fusion and Bollywood dance items at halftime for popular games events, has featured on CNN and regularly participates in festivals and concerts.

  members look on (top and 2nd row) Photos: Jasmine D. Driver 

   All Congress photos by Jasmine D. Driver 

Yet another highlight was The Good, The Bad & The D’Ugly presented as a romantic comedy with 13 actors and nearly double the number of models presenting the creations by fashion designer Ashdeen Lilaowala. The story was meant to celebrate self-discovery, love and the magic of embracing one’s true self.

The Z Band formed by Farrokh Firozgary (aka DJ Gary) with his enthusiastic musicians and vocalists brought a vibrant repertoire of English, Bollywood, Latin, Country and other eclectic music genres to keep the young and old merrily dancing despite space constraints on the dance floor.

The main draw on the second evening sponsored by Reza Persian Grill was a Gujarati natak Pestonji Pakrai Giya. Written, produced and directed by Nozer Buchia, the farce was set in a Parsi colony in Bombay where neighbors walk into homes without prior intimation and where Pestonji, enacted by Buchia, assumes the role of a savior in the neighborhood with his limited medical knowledge. The audience was specifically instructed not to take any photos or video snippets and share it on social media as they were hoping to perform the play in other cities too. 

Post dinner DJ Gary took the stage once again. With his love for music he ensures that his music library has the latest numbers from all genres, delivered through top-notch equipment. Offering his musical talents pro bono to the Zoroastrian community, he believes that while aging is inevitable, staying young at heart is always a choice.

On the last night, the New Year’s Eve Gala was sponsored by Shernaz and Feroze Bhandara. Setting the tempo for the evening was renowned Houston based tenor Naushad Mehta singing Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera. Equally captivating was the music performance by Shanaya Patel who sang Feeling Good by Michael Bublé.

With the 18th NAZC drawing to a close, the torch was handed over to Khodadad Pashutanizadeh and Darius Captain of the Sacramento Zoroastrian Association that will host the 19th NAZC in 2028.

The husband-wife duo of Nathan Kepner and Morgan Tsu-Raun performing under the banner of Crescent Circus fascinated the audience with their Illusions show, a fusion of magic, circus arts and comedy. This item was sponsored by Huty and Farokh Billimoria. 

To keep the revelers in high spirits until the stroke of midnight when the New Year was ushered in was the task of DJ Masti who has been playing the best of Hindi classics with American hits for nearly three decades.

Reports on other Congress sessions will be carried in forthcoming issues of Parsiana.