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"It has been over 27 years that this committee of the Association of Inter-Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ) has been in office. A lot has happened over the years and I think that in our own way we have done our best for AIMZ. Some of us feel that the time has come to step down and hand over to a fresh group of people who can perhaps take AIMZ to another level,” noted Meher Amersey in her president’s report.
Brothers Vispy and Kerssie Wadia, founders of the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism, "are young and enterprising,” commented Amersey at the Association’s annual general meeting (AGM) on September 30, 2019, reposing faith in their ability to steer the AIMZ ship on its onward journey. But for them to take on the mantle, they need to be members. As per the prevailing rules of AIMZ, only Zoroastrians who have married out of the community and their offspring over 18 years of age can be made members. Since the Wadia brothers have Zoroastrian spouses, they are associate members.

 

 

 

 

To remove this hurdle, the general body at the AGM unanimously passed a resolution that a clause in the Memorandum of Association be amended to read "a member means any person professing the Zoroastrian religion above the age of 18 years.” Earlier this resolution was passed by all the nine committee members at their meeting on September 11. The committee constitutes Amersey, vice president Smita Godrej Crishna, honorary secretary Vera Mahajan, honorary treasurer Khursheed Narang, and members Meher Rafaat, Ave Mehta, Kavas Petigara, Darius Shroff and Berjis Desai.
Both these resolutions will be forwarded to the Charity Commissioner (CC) and once approval is received, an extraordinary general meeting will be convened when "most of the present committee will step down and make way for a new group to take over the running of AIMZ.” Mahajan is the only one from the present committee who has offered to continue working with the new crew.
"We are not merging both the organizations; they will run parallel,” clarified Vispy at the AGM. "Not all the trustees will be common on both the organizations.” When asked where the meetings would be held, he said they could meet at their premises at Fort. When Amersey was specifically asked whether her residence would be available for the yearly meeting she said, "I cannot promise.” Those present thanked Amersey "for her years of hospitality” with Ervad Khushroo Madon suggesting she be appointed chairman emeritus.
The present committee members were urged to meet advocate I. T. Mishra who will be handling this matter at the CC’s office. Expecting consent to be received in three or four months, Vispy hoped there would be no bureaucrat who would delay the proceedings by saying there are cases pending since 2015 so how could he give clearance to a 2019 matter.
When Madon was asked whether the coming season will see him perform navjotes for children of interfaith marriages, he said "many in the month of January.”
Member Dinoo Vasunia complained that at the Iranshah in Udvada, tandarosti prayers were refused for her grandson Isaac, ostensibly because "énu Parsi naam nathi (does not have a Parsi sounding name).” Paula Petigara mentioned that when their son did the DNA test, 23andme, the results showed up a mixed lineage: North European (from his mother), Middle Eastern (indicating his father’s Iranian roots) and South Asian!
There are many who have supported the AIMZ cause since its inception, recalled Amarsey in her report. For legal assistance, she thanked noted solicitor Shiavax Vakil, Rustom Gagrat and Desai. Zoroastrian scholars and researchers who guided them were Prof Kaikhosrov Irani, Farrokh Vajifdar, as also Dina McIntyre, Rustom Gai, Keki Bhote and Jamsheed Kanga. Among the clergy, Ervads Madon and Framroze Mirza were lauded for their courage. Burzy Manekshaw was thanked for auditing their accounts pro bono over the years.