Archive

"FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) stands for Zoroastrians…  Times are changing. Winds of change are taking place. We have to be inclusive otherwise we will be lost. Think about the future,” FEZANA president Homi Gandhi impressed upon the assembly at the Global Working Group (GWG) meeting held at the Crown complex in Perth on June 1, 2018. His remark was prompted by the minutes of the last GWG meeting in Bombay wherein it was recorded that "GWG was a Group specifically for and of Parsi Zoroastrians and not Zoroastrians.” In the subsequent discussions it emerged that the statement was made by Yazdi Desai, president of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI).
Wary of "shifting the original goal post,” Malcolm Deboo, president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) asserted, "Our (ZTFE) membership is limited to Parsi Irani Zoroastrians. We joined the organization (GWG) on the key premise that it stood for Parsi Irani Zoroastrians (ZTFE has admitted the child of a Parsi mother and a non-Parsi father — editors).”
When it was pointed out that this Parsi/Zoroastrian divide has plagued the community for the last 20 years, Arzan Wadia, vice president of FEZANA, remarked, "It means that in 20 years we haven’t learnt to evolve.” "It is insulting; it doesn’t make sense,” stated Alayar Dabestani, representing Iran. Subsequently he expressed his appreciation of the "sacrifice and devotion of the Parsi community,” and particularly Manekji Limji Hataria that led to the abolition of the jezia tax that enabled the Iranian Zarathushtis to prosper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The GWG has objectives and committees to look after specific things,” observed Kersy Bhesania of Dubai. He felt that GWG as a body for Parsi Zoroastrians should be permitted to "flourish, not be crushed.”
Non executive chairman of GWG, Neville Shroff recommended being "inclusive” to facilitate "flexibility for the future.” To remove the ambiguities the GWG needs to be formalized with "a proper constitution,” pointed out Dinshaw Tamboly representing the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds (WZOTF). "Side-stepping the core issues” has led to this debate, felt Astad Clubwala, president of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY), who advocated the need "to tackle the core issues.”
"The root cause of all misguided energy is the liberal/conservative divide…  If it is addressed by a high powered committee in India, so much positive can come out of it,” opined Sam Balsara, chairman of Madison World, who recommended adopting "a duality of approach.” He felt that "the barrage of WhatsApp and Facebook messages would cease” if just one of the 50 agiaries in Bombay could open its doors to liberal Zoroastrians who can pray there without interfering with anybody else. The orthodox could continue to worship undisturbed in the other fire temples.
Deboo though feared that the road recommended by Balsara "will get into a quagmire. My suggestion is start afresh like in the case of Worli Prayer Hall or the fire temple in Poona (Asha Vahishta – The Zoroastrian Centre).” Balsara clarified that he felt "wasted resources” could be put to better use since some fire temples have hardly any devotees. Wadia wondered whether an advisory think tank, as recommended by Balsara would serve the community known to have "short-sighted and inward looking” members where "everyone thinks they are a Pope unto themselves.”
Whilst  a "separate place of worship in Bombay is doable,” merging of fire temples would be difficult because besides convincing the trustees, the wishes of the settlors and the beneficiaries would need to be considered, mentioned Tamboly. He offered to share the names on his list of "Parsis in Harmony.” (Tamboly subsequently clarified for Parsiana that this group was the brainchild of Adi Engineer of Poona. The objective of this group was to bring together individuals professing conservative as well as liberal views "to work out solutions to community issues based on frank dialog conducted in a civil way.” Among those who met in the chambers of lawyer Nadir Modi were legal luminaries and community activists like Burjor Antia, Darius Khambata, Balsara, Maneck Davar, Homi Ranina, Anahita Desai, Binaifer Sahukar and Tamboly. This meet has not converged in the last three years.)
Meher Bhesania, organizer of the Ninth World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in Dubai gave a preview of her book Zarathushtra and the Origins of Zoroastrianism. The tome was launched later in the evening at the hands of the Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan. "This is the work of 12 scholars and historians from around the world, carrying accurate, authentic information.” The book that additionally features paintings done in Dubai was printed in India by JAK Printers. She had brought 20 copies for the Congress and hoped organizers of future world congresses would purchase them for inclusion in the welcome kit for delegates. The book was made possible with the financial support of industrialist Nadir Godrej, Tamboly and the Bhesania family, she mentioned. The book is priced at USD 45/AUD 60 (or INR 2,300, inclusive of the cost of delivery).”
Six winners were selected in different categories from the 46 nominations received for the global awards, announced Meher Bhesania. The names of the winners were not divulged until the awards night on June 3. Even the awardees were not informed but they were urged to attend the Congress stating they were "strong contenders.”
"To empower Zarathushti students to learn how to create economic, cultural and intellectual value” is the objective of the Zoroastrian Faculty Network (ZFN), stated Prof Farrokh Mistree. With the active involvement of six Zarathushti faculty members and three Zoroastrian business people, the mission is to fully fund the best education opportunities for three Zarathushti students placed in graduate programs. At the first webinar conducted by the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) vice president Yazdi Tantra, 14 students attended, mentioned FPZAI honorary secretary Farrokh Rustomji who is the chief executive officer of the R. D. Sethna Trust. The second webinar explained the funding options.
Shroff stated the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao extends financial support to 60-80 postgraduate students annually. Mistree explained that the ZFN’s focus is on "mentoring/advice/guidance… the opportunity to work with a Zoroastrian faculty member who has a passion to mentor” and take on the responsibility of an "academic son/daughter.”
To promote entrepreneurship within the community in India, beginning July 2018 evaluation of projects will commence for interest free loans varying between five to 25 lakh rupees (USD 7,330 to 36,653). The funding initiative was conceived by the WZCC in association with the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust (WZOT). To build the corpus for this venture, "We need 100 people giving five lakhs each,” stated WZCC global president Edul Daver. Through WhatsApp groups formed as a WZCC youth initiative there is a constant exchange of entrepreneurship ideas/requirements/needs among individuals in Bombay, New York, UK and other areas, stated Tantra. The Venture Capital scheme that was earlier promoted by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) through the Zoroastrian Investment Corporation Private Limited was reportedly discontinued for want of entrepreneurs.
The Seventh World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (WZYC) will be held in Los Angeles from July 1 to 6, 2019, announced chair Parshan Khosravi. Wadia gave a presentation on the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum held at the Asha Centre in London (see "Forming youthful bonds,” Parsiana, May 21, 2018) last March and the Return to Roots (RTR) program (last December-January) under the aegis of Parzor. RTR arranges for 25 youth in the 18 to 35 age group, one of whose parents is a Zoroastrian, and who has been navjoted to widen their understanding of their Zoroastrian roots. Whilst 35% of the contribution comes from the participants, 65% is paid by the donor trusts from Hong Kong, Pakistan, FEZANA, ZAGNY, WZOTF. "I am the poster child of this program,” said Kayras Irani of Canada who now returns to the program each year as a volunteer. Having found a Zarathushti life partner from New Zealand he intends to relocate there.
Twenty-five high school students from India/Pakistan/Iran who are involved in Zarathushti projects will be sponsored to attend the 12th WZC in New York in 2022, announced Clubwala. After the GWG accepted FEZANA’s offer to host the Congress, it was awarded to ZAGNY. Their past experience of organizing congresses has demonstrated that "by and large there is a financial surplus that goes into creating legacy programs.” They also plan to introduce event based sponsors and for their fund-raising programs they will depend on their "fund-raising-in-chief Edul Daver” who is known to have successfully spearheaded many drives for the New York community, including for the new Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr.
To facilitate the relocation of Zoroastrian students/employees moving to foreign shores, Gandhi was keen that GWG members recommend names of people from their region. They could assist the newcomers "merge with the host community and serve as a guardian. There would be no financial liability,” he clarified. Dabestani mentioned that "students are desperate to get out of Iran,” and would appreciate assistance in the form of social housing, health insurance and English education classes.
"Infrastructure is the life blood of a community. It can transform a lay organization into a professionally run organization,” stated Rohinton Rivetna. He was happy that the Federation of Australian Zoroastrian Associations was registered under Pestonji’s stewardship. [After several teleconference sessions, they held their first face-to-face meeting on May 31, when even the Zoroastrian Association of New Zealand showed interest in joining (see "Inclusive and progressive,” pg 24).] Lauding the setting up of the SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies in London (see "SP Group supports SOAS,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, August 7, 2018) with a donation of five million pounds (Rs 42 crores) he was hopeful a center for Zoroastrian studies would be established in North America too.
Rustom Engineer of Houston gave details on new dar-e-mehers established in North America and reported that the upcoming atash kadeh in Houston with facilities for higher liturgical ceremonies should be ready by the end of the year. A model of the atash kadeh will be displayed at the Parliament of World Religions this November. When Dr Behram Pastakia, co-chair of FEZANA’s UN NGO Committee, was asked to give his comments on Zoroastrian participation in the interfaith arena he desisted saying he was neither issued an agenda nor the minutes of the last GWG meeting. It was clarified that the agenda and minutes were sent to the heads of different regions with a request to circulate the documents to members involved with GWG.
Rusi Dalal of UK proposed that the global body resolve and record its appreciation of the research and work done by UK based scholar Prof John Hinnells who passed away on May 3, 2018.
The half day in Perth set aside for GWG proving to be inadequate, one day will be reserved for the next GWG meeting in Orlando in the first week of May 2019. That GWG meet will be adjunct to the annual general meeting (AGM) of FEZANA and the WZCC AGM. "The Orlando team is well qualified to host the meetings,” asserted Pastakia, informing the gathering that the venue will be a hotel run by Zoroastrians. When Bhesania and Deboo favored holding the next meeting in Bombay, as per the GWG guidelines of conducting alternate meetings within and out of India, the majority felt that it is not mandatory to observe guidelines particularly since there was not a single BPP trustee in attendance at this meet. (Since his flight landed later in the day, the sole BPP trustee Viraf Mehta who participated in the 11WZC told Parsiana that "work commitments” precluded him from attending the GWG meeting.)
Those attending the GWG meet were: Firoz Pestonji from Australia; Kersy and Meher Bhesania from Dubai; Homi Gandhi, Arzan Wadia, Rohinton and Roshan Rivetna, Dr Dolly Dastoor, Katayun Kapadia, Dr Behram Pastakia, Rustom Engineer, Dr Farrokh Mistree and Fariborz Rahnamoon from FEZANA; Farrokh Rustomji from FPZAI; Neville Shroff from Hong Kong; Sam Balsara from India; Alayar Dabestani from Iran; Faraydon Karim, Awat Darya, Jamal Mohammed, Mariwan Kakashikh and Dr Shorsh Ali Ahmad from Kurdistan; Kayzad Irani from Return to Roots; Edul Daver, Yazdi Tantra, Xerxes Dastur and Maher Dhamodiwalla from WZCC; Dinshaw Tamboly from WZOTF; Parshan Khosravi from the WZYC; Astad Clubwala from ZAGNY; Malcolm Deboo and Rusi Dalal from the ZTFE. The Press was represented by Parsiana.