The Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s (BPP) plan to set up a waste segregation and composting unit at a plot near the Tower of Silence has been scrapped after community members opposed it.

Article by Yesha Kotak | Hindustan Times

“The elderly, a large section of the orthodox community believe that the waste treatment plant goes against the ethos of Doongerwadi [Tower of Silence] since the proposed plant is close to our dokhmas [towers]. We have decided that waste management units will be set up in colonies, according to BMC guidelines,” said Viraf Mehta, BPP trustee.

The trust had planned to transport waste from 10 housing colonies managed by it, to Ambawadi on Malabar Hill following directives from BMC, which has made household garbage segregation necessary.

HT had reported last month that BPP was supposed to implement a three-stage plan to collect waste generated by 2500 homes and process it on trust-owned land in Malabar Hill.

In the first phase of the plan, waste from 10 big Parsi housing colonies was to be collected and treated at the waste treatment plant to be set up near the chawls housing Khandias, their traditional corpse bearers.

However, few community members raised apprehensions about the unit being close to the Tower of Silence. Some were of believed the proposal would lead to commercialisation.

The BMC had set a deadline of October 2, 2017 and then extended it to end of January 2018 to stop collecting wet waste from bulk generators (those who generate more than 100kgs of waste or facilities spread over an area of 20,000sq metres or more).

In December 2017, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta ordered all 24 municipal ward officers to prepare plans to reduce waste generation in their wards by 6%.

BPP trustee Kersi Randeria, who proposed the project said, “We need a way to treat our waste, but also need to respect the sensitivity of the community.”

A division bench of the Calcutta high court requested a single judge bench to consider an application by The Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) to be included as a party or intervene in proceedings in a matter regarding the entry of children, whose father is a non-Parsi, to the fire temple.

Article by Jayanta Gupta | TNN

Kolkata resident Prochy N Mehta moved the high court bench of Justice Soumen Sen in 2017 praying for orders to allow her grandchildren (whose father is a non-Parsi) entry to the fire temple as they have been initiated to the Zoroastrian faith through Navjot ceremonies. After start of proceedings, organisations such as The Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Kolkata and the FPZAI prayed to be added as parties in the matter as their views are important.

On January 18, 2018, Justice Sen directed: “All interested parties in the proceeding shall file their respective notes of argument within three weeks of date.” Aggrieved with this order, the FPZAI moved an appeal in the division bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya through advocate Phiroze Edulji.

“The PFZAI wishes to bring before the court the view of the entire community as it is the umbrella body of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans/ Punchayets of India and a judgment on the interpretation of who is a “Parsi Zoroastrian” would affect all the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans/ Punchayets of India. Denial of the right to be added as a party and only being allowed to file written notes of arguments would result in violation of the principles of natural justice and finally result in miscarriage of justice. Written notes of arguments can never be a substitute for an affidavit in opposition,” Edulji submitted in the division bench.

The division bench disposed of the appeal by “requesting the interlocutory court to decide on the propriety of impleading the appellant and others who applied in such regard before proceeding to deal with the merits of the matter”.

Akuri & A Pinch Of Hope: A Feel Good Short Film That’ll Leave You With A Lingering Smile

Two men stumble upon each other at an Irani Cafe and what happens next will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

How many times have you seen movies or videos about a man who is this close to giving up, but then an ‘angel’ appears and saves him from the darkness? AKURI & A Pinch Of Hope, a short film by KARA Studios is yet another (not so) rehashed version of the same old tale: You’ve got a lot to live for, don’t throw your life away.

Sadiq Sheikh and Cyrus Irani are two people who are poles apart in their characteristics. They randomly stumble upon each other at a cafe and what transpires between them changes Sadiq’s life forever. You guessed it, Cyrus Irani unknowingly teaches Sadiq a lesson. The main component used to teach him this lesson is Akuri – a spicy scrambled egg dish eaten in Parsi cuisine of India.

The film begins with some beautiful shots of the real Mumbai. The kind of frames that remind you of sunny days when you’d sit in your college canteen, and sip lemonade. The conversation between the protagonists is set in a quaint little Parsi cafe, and the sprinkle of Farsi is particularly heartwarming. Cyrus sits next to Sadiq and goes on to compare the journey of life to the complex flavors of his favorite dish- Akuri. He makes some heart-warming points as he beautifully compares life to the varied yet coherent ingredients used in the preparation of Akuri, and this changes Sadiq’s decision of ending it all. His words make Sadiq realize how hope is always an arm’s length away.

Watch the short film right here:

These 20 minutes might not change your life or alter the way you think drastically, but it’ll leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside and serve as a reminder to love yourself, even when times are tough.

Now, who’s in the mood for some delicious scrambled eggs?

The caves at Ajmalgadh a small mountain in Vansda, Gujarat, India. For over 14 years this place provided a safe refuge for The Iranshah, the holiest of our holy fires, 700 years ago. Today it was the location for a celebration the vibrations of which must’ve made the mountain sing and Ahura Mazda smile down at us.

Ajmalgadh is one of the many places that our holy Iranshah Atash stayed at in its long and troubled journey before it found its home in Udvada. Here in a cave within the mountain the fire lived and breathed for 14 years under the constant care and faith of our ancestors. A few years ago, the Vansda Parsi Anjuman decided to build a monument to this remarkable and unimaginable feat and to honour the Atash and those who tended it. The beautiful  Stambh at Ajmalgadh was planned. The plateau of Ajmalgadh is also home to a Hanuman Mandir and a small Shiv Mandir. When the Anjuman decided to start work on the Stambh, the Forest Department took umbrage and stopped the work citing their ownership of the land.The Anjuman approached one of our community leaders who observed that if there could be 2 mandirs erected there, why not a Stambh. He got the wheels rolling and thereafter it was a smooth sail.

Today the Vansda Parsi Anjuman with the support and financial assistance of the World Zoroastrian Orgainization Trust Funds under the leadership of Dinshaw Tamboly and with the blessings of Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor, the vada dasturji of the Iranshah Atashbehram, planned a jashan next to the Stambh and they invited our samast kom to grace this occasion and participate in the celebrations. It was a beautiful day and as we got there, the mountain itself seemed alive. Numerous cars made their way up the mountain traversing some very steep and sharp roads. The event was efficiently and thoughtfully organised. There were cars to take people right till the top from a pick up point midway up the mountain. Helpful young men were deployed all along the route with welcoming smiles and some useful tips on how to navigate the steep incline in their cars.

The Anjuman had erected a giant shamiana for the public at large and the place was packed. Hundreds of guests from near and far gathered for this historic event. There was a refreshment counter too and some industrious ladies were selling bhakhra and organic jaggery. People had come from Mumbai and all over Gujarat. In fact, the WZO organized a bus from Navsari to bring residents of the Old Age Home at Navsari. The young, very young and very old attended too.

The jashan was conducted by 16 priests, led by the Vada Dasturji of Iranshah Udwada, Khurshed Dastur. It was a beautifully conducted hour long jashan that lifted the spirits. At this event one is reminded of the adage “a community that prays together stays together”.

After the jashan, the felicitations took place. We were honored to be in the presence of Vada Dasturji, Dinshaw Tamboly and his graceful wife Bachi, Jamshed Dotiwala the chair of the Surat Parsi Punchayet, the Maharaja of Vansda and his son, and a very eloquent grandson of the Vadodara Royal family. Of course the office bearers of all the Anjumans who could be present were present. Each one was honored with a shawl and flowers and some of the dignitaries gave rousing speeches harking on the hard work and glory of our ancestors and calling on the samast kom to  aim once again for those heights.

The event culminated with a Gambhar at the Wadia Hall in Vansda catered superbly by Jimmy Gadiwalla.

Ajmalgadh got its due respect today from the community, after centuries and we hope this becomes a regular event.

The Zoroastrian initiative ‘Jiyo Parsi’ has taken a leaf out of Christianity’s book with its new ‘Jiyo Mobed’ programme that aims to make priests into community facilitators by enhancing their communication and leadership skills. “We were considering the Catholic example of priests as pastors or counsellors to the community and the first intermediary for any family problem like death or divorce,” explains Shernaz Cama, director of the UNESCO PARZOR Foundation that implements Jiyo Parsi on behalf of the government.

Article by Nergish Sunavala | TNN

Keeping this goal in mind, Jiyo Parsi-a government funded initiative to increase the community’s population through medical fertility assistance and advocacy-organised two workshops last year for Parsi priests or ‘mobeds’ where they were taught counselling and interpersonal skills by psychiatrists. About 40 priests attended the first workshop in May, while the second in November had a crowd of 50 as priests’ wives and children were also invited. “A lot of mobeds complained that their sons don’t want to become priests because they are looked down upon,” says Cama. “That is why we wanted the children present to see the respect their parents should be getting.”

In recent years, fewer Parsis go to fire temples and many have started disrespecting priests because of their shabby clothes and lack of confidence, says Jiyo Parsi programme coordinator Katy Gandevia. Ervad Kaizad Karkaria, who went to Poddar College and attended both workshops, said that most Parsis wrongly assume that only those who aren’t educated or can’t prosper in another profession take up the priesthood. The workshop combated such stereotypes by inviting highly educated priests to talk about their calling. “It is high time that priests are given due respect but it is also important that priests train themselves to do more than just recite prayers,” says Cama. “They should also be able to give spiritual sustenance to their flock.”

Besides sessions on self-care, parenting and substance abuse among the youth, the priests were also given a tutorial on the ‘Jiyo Parsi’ programme and encouraged to spread the message of having larger families. Parsiana, a community magazine, reported that Yusuf Matcheswalla, a Bohra professor of psychiatry at Grant Medical College, urged Parsi mobeds to play a greater role in getting youngsters hitched. “He reminded the audience that if a Bohri priest came across an unmarried man of 30, one could be sure that in a few days, a meeting would be arranged between the man’s family and that of a prospective bride,” reported Parsiana. This was followed by an hour-long session on communication skills by Kersi Chavda, American Psychiatric Association fellow, and a lecture on listening skills by Farrokh Jijina, the former assistant director of The Samaritans Helpline.

Cama says she only realized how much Christian pastors and Jewish rabbis interact with the youth when her son went to Trinity College, Cambridge, for his post-graduation. “The first person to reach out to him and all the other students was the chaplain,” says Cama. This was followed by regular invitations to participate in church brunches, donation drives and other community activities. “We need our priests to interact with the young rather than being ignored by them,” she adds. “In Iran, the priest is still very much a pastor and counsellor in the Zoroastrian community.”

Why did a photojournalist from Florence choose to repeatedly return to Mumbai to document a community of 40,000?

Article by Kusumita Das | Mid-Day

After the Navjote ceremony of Sara and Azita. This is like a baptism, when a young Parsi becomes a full Zoroastrian. A long ceremony is performed and the child is given the “Sudreh” and “Kishti” that they are expected to wear every day.

Geographically or otherwise, the Parsis and the Italians could not be more far removed as people. Therefore, it’s interesting that Majlend Bramo, a photojournalist based in Florence, made his way to India three years ago with the intention of telling a photo-story on the Zoroastrians of Mumbai. “But, it was meant to be,” he tells us over breakfast at the cafeteria inside Kitab Khana on a Thursday morning.

Actor Sohrab Ardeshir as captured by Bramo during evening tea time. The photographer likes the soft sunset light. Pics/Majlend Bramo

Bramo, who was working as a journalist – “in Italy, we don’t differentiate between photographer and journalist”- in the Italian newspaper, Corriere dela Sera, had found a spiritual mentor in famous journalist Tiziano Terzani. “I never got the chance to meet him in person; he passed away in 2004, long before I started out. But I learnt a lot about journalism and life in general from the stories he wrote.

He lived most of his life in Asia, including India. He was a deeply spiritual man,” Bramo says. In one of his books, Terzani had mentioned Zarathustra, the prophet of the Zoroastrians. The name jumped out at Bramo. “In high school, we had studied Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, so the name was familiar, even though that book had nothing to do with the prophet.” At that time, Bramo was also looking for a new calling. “Six years into journalism, I realised that I was always telling stories in a rush, without getting a chance to dig deep. I was looking at telling one story at a time and telling it well.”

Curious about Zarathustra, when Bramo started his research, he learnt more about the Parsis, their history, and that much of the dwindling community, now resides in Mumbai. “I also realised that Zubin Mehta, who was in Florence at that time, is a Parsi. I had covered his orchestras often as a journalist. It was all adding up for me,” Bramo smiles.

When he set off for Mumbai, he was grappling in the dark. He sought to couch-surf to find a place to stay. “I had no idea accommodation was so expensive. I wrote to 20 people on Couchsurfing.com, and guess who replied? A Parsi lady, from Khushroo Baug!” It was through her that he got to other members in the community.

He shot his subjects for over three years, in various environments, from the rudimentary breakfast table to weddings. “In case of families, I would sometimes spend an hour with them in the mornings, and then capture them the second they were not aware of my presence. To capture subjects in their element, I had to step back, not direct them in any way, not even move the tiniest object. It was hard, because as photographers, we are used to shifting things around to create the perfect frame,” says the 30-year-old.

This visual documentation has found expression in a book titled, Like Sugar In Milk which releases next month. The book borrows its name from the legendary folklore dating back 1,200 years, about King Jadi Rana of Gujarat being convinced by Persian refugees who had fled Iran after Muslim persecution, to grant them shelter. This he did after the Persians said they’d act like sugar in his kingdom’s ‘milk’ – make the milk sweeter without adding to its volume.

Bramo re-imagines this conversation and has divided the book into five chapters, that interlace the legend with slice-of-life images of how the community lives today. Interestingly, none of the images carry captions. “That was a design choice, really. The captions appear in the end, like an index.”

The cover is unlike a photo book too. We are intrigued by a dark, crooked diagonal line on the cover, only to turn the page and discover that is the path which the Persian immigrants followed to reach India. Bramo says he has not authored the book for a Western audience alone. “The Parsis constitute 0.0004 per cent of the Indian population, 40,000 in Mumbai, in a city of 20 million people. I feel most Indians too don’t know enough about the community.”

What compelled Bramo to pursue the book was the historic parallel he finds between the Parsi chapter in India and Europe’s current refugee crisis. “The contribution of Parsis to Mumbai and India is immense. Had Jadi Rana refused them entry into Sanjan, none of this would have existed. I think Europe can take a cue from India. Who knows what the Syrians could make of themselves as immigrants, tomorrow?”

To pre-order a copy, log on to www.majlendbramo.com

Catch the story of Parsi entrepreneurship and how they made their way from shipbuilders and traders to India’s leading industrialists. Also, catch the one link with the bygone days and old trade links. This beautiful documentary is put together by Living History India an ode to the billion fascinating stories that make India.

Our dear friend and whiz adman Rayomand J. Patell wrote the following on a social media post today.

We are the warriors of the Light.

Our Fire Temples try to gently remind us of this.

When Europe was still climbing down from trees, the Persian Empire stretched across the known world.

The first charter of Human Rights? That’s us.

When the Jews needed help capturing the Temple Of Solomon back, we had their back.

Christianity? Our Magi (Holy Priests) were the Three Wise Men who’d foretold of the Lord’s birth.

Yes we lost to Islamic forces in our own homeland. But we preserved the Light by giving up everything else. Duty fulfilled. Of a warrior race. And our ancient Aryan brothers the Hindus took us in when we needed it most, despite the schisms in the original Proto-Aryan race.

And it makes me sick to think that 4000 years later, our fights are about who is a Zoroastrian and who is a Parsi and who gets to be a member in a Club whose very existence is threatened.

Rise over these divisions. Warriors are meant to fight together, not each other.

Let Zoroastrianism be a universal religion accepting all.

Let the Parsis in India preserve the identity of the race that came over by sea 1200 years ago.

How difficult is this to resolve between the Orthodox and Progressive factions?

We are not lost sheep blinded by myopia, we are Warriors of the Light.

#Tandarosti

Naqsh-e Rustam is an impressive necropolis that stands as a reminder of the once famous and powerful Achaemenid Persian Empire, which thrived between 500 BC and 330 BC when it was defeated by Alexander the Great. The complex has been somewhat overshadowed by the nearby ancient capital of Persepolis, but this royal necropolis does stand out as a magnificent example of ancient Persian architecture and art.

The tombs are hewn into the rock at a significant height from the base of the hills, and bear the resemblance of crosses, hence the site is locally known as the “Persian Crosses.” The necropolis consists of four rock-cut tombs holding the remains of Achaemenid rulers. Only one has been identified with certainty: the great Persian king, Darius I. Archaeologists believe the other three kings buried here are Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II.

At the centre of the cross are openings leading to the chamber where the sarcophagi may have been placed. In fact, it is not known whether the bodies were directly placed in a sarcophagus inside the tombs or if the bones were collected from a Tower of Silence and subsequently placed in the tombs, in the traditional Zoroastrian ritual.

Above the openings of each tomb are carvings of kingly figures being anointed by god-like creatures.  There are other rock carvings below the cross-hewn tombs commemorating various battles that brought the Achaemenid dynasty to prominence. One carving actually seems to predate the tombs, suggesting that this ancient site had been used by people even before the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

Aside from the tombs, a building also stands at the necropolis. Called Ka’ba-ye Zartosht, (Cube of Zoroaster), it is a replica of the Zendān-e Solaymān (Prison of Solomon) in Pasargadae, the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was once thought that this structure was the site of a perennially burning fire common in Zoroastrian temples, but the lack of ventilation suggests otherwise. Although there is currently no consensus as to the specific use of this structure, it is widely accepted that it served a religious function. On the walls of this building are relatively well-preserved inscriptions in three languages.

Kekoo Nicholson, president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), passed away last morning at Parel’s Global Hospital of a liver ailment

Kekoo Nicholson, president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), passed away last morning at Parel’s Global Hospital of a liver ailment. He was 63. He had been ailing for sometime, and in his absence, the club was being run by vice president Premal Udhani. He said, “The CCI is officially in mourning… the club has cancelled all functions till Thursday as a mark of respect for Kekoo Nicholson.”

Udhani said, “On Thursday evening, we will hold a meet in the club, ‘Remembering Kekoo’, where members will speak about their association with him and the memories they shared with him. We do not want to call it a condolence meet. This is because Kekoo was full of laughter, full of life.”

Udhani said this was the first time in the history of the club that a president had passed away while in office. Nicholson had been CCI president for three and a half years and his term would have ended in September 2018. “The club will function the way it has for the past few days. Post the ‘Remembering Kekoo’ meet, we will decide on a day to hold a meeting, when the 15-person club committee will officially elect a president to complete Kekoo’s term till September,” added Udhani. Nicholson was the first cousin of ex-chairmen of the RWITC Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Zavaray Poonawalla. He was also the owner of Selvel.

Owner of Mumbai Samachar to appear in HC on Feb. 16

Mumbai: Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) have approached the Bombay High Court over a series of news reports published in a supplement of Mumbai Samachar, one of the oldest Gujarati dailies in the country. Over the past few weeks, several articles criticising the BPP have been carried in the supplement, Metro Junction.

Sources said all seven BPP trustees have signed consent terms, which restrict them from publishing material defaming the BPP in media concerns owned by them. Mumbai Samachar is owned by the Cama family. One of its shareholders, Muncherji Cama, was a BPP trustee till he resigned in 2015. His resignation has been challenged in the Charity Commissioner’s office. They added that Mr. Cama had signed the first part of the consent terms.

Community members say the decision to move court is to stop the press from reporting critical Parsi community news. The community’s oldest newspaper, Jam-e-Jamshed, was brought under the management of the Parsi Times in 2016. The youngest community newspaper, Parsi Times is owned by Kersie Randeria, a BPP trustee. “With both newspapers being controlled by BPP trustees, articles criticising them cannot get through. Now, they want to build pressure on other newspapers as well,” a community member said. The matter is listed to be heard by Justice S.J. Kathawalla on Thursday in his chamber. Mr. Cama told The Hindu that he has been asked to appear in court on February 16.

Launched on September 1 last year, Parsika is an effort by four Zoroastrians to help our community do what it does best – eat to its heart’s content. As their Facebook page so honestly puts it – Parsika aims to connect those who love good food with those who make it.

Marking their debut with probably the most lip-smacking Badam Paak this author has ever tasted, the company also markets a very authentic Vasanu, some truly melt-in-your-mouth Orange and Coffee Ganache and a range of evergreen Assorted Chocolates. All products are handcrafted using the finest ingredients possible. If you have still not experienced Parsika’s delicious delicacies, call + 91 98207 67726 for free home delivery.

In the short span since its launch, Parsika has won over the taste-buds of more than just the the Parsi community. Besides being available at over 30 restaurants and various retail outlets from Colaba to Jogeshwari, Parsika’s signature Badam Paak, Ganache and Chocolates have gained enormous popularity. From social and corporate gifts to office parties, social gatherings and other momentous occasions, Parsika is slowly but surely carving a special niche in the hearts (and tummies) of food lovers across the city. This publication wishes them the very best and looks forward to being delighted with the next delicacy that Parsika promises to tickle Parsi palettes with. Until then, Badam Paak khaava chaalo ji.

A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved. 

Tanaz Bhathena debuts her first novel A Girl Like That recently.

About A Girl Like That

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. You don’t want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal.

About Tanaz Bhathena

Tanaz Bhathena was born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada. She is the author of A Girl Like That and The Beauty of the Moment (forthcoming in 2019). Her short stories have appeared in various journals including Blackbird, Witness and Room. A wanderer at heart, Tanaz can often be found travelling to different countries, learning bits and pieces of a foreign language, and taking way too many photographs. She loves slapstick comedies and any kind of music that makes her dance. She lives in the Toronto area with her family.

An Interview with Tanaz Bhathena on Her New YA Book A GIRL LIKE THAT

Interview by Lucas Maxwell

Tanaz Bhathena was born in Mumbai and was raised in Saudi Arabia and eventually Toronto, Canada. She has been an award-winning short story author for almost ten years. Her debut YA novel A Girl Like That is a disturbing plunge into gender equality, mental health, abuse, bullying, rape and religion.

A Girl Like That focuses on Zarin, a 16 year old girl with a bad reputation. She’s the girl parents tell their sons to stay away from. Her reputation is the source of endless gossip in school. Underneath it all, Zarin is much more than what the gossip says. In this scorching novel her life and the lives of those around her will be unfurled for everyone to see. It’s a punch to the gut that will no doubt will have people talking.

I was fortunate to have a chance to sit down with Tanaz to ask her about A Girl Like That and other things.

Lucas Maxwell: Can you describe how it felt to move to Canada from Saudi Arabia as a teenager? How did it change your perception of the world? Did you experience racism after you arrived?

There was a great deal of culture shock initially and it took a few years to adjust to everything around me. For example, in Saudi Arabia, I went to an all-girls school and had next to no interaction with boys.

I had to wear an abaya in public and didn’t care much about fashion. While all of these things changed eventually, I think the best part about moving to Canada was growing more confident in myself and my own abilities as a girl and a woman. I also learned to drive, which I wouldn’t have been able to do at the time in the Kingdom.

On the downside, I did experience racism shortly after I arrived. People would snicker or make rude comments if I wore Indian clothing. Once a girl tried to run me over with a bike on the sidewalk! Legally, Canada is a free country, but there was a strange sort of irony where you had to wear a uniform of sorts (in this case, Western clothing) to blend in here without being heckled, just like Saudi Arabia.

LM: Why do you feel it is important for teens to see themselves in the books that they read?

TB: Growing up, I never found myself in the books that I read. If I wanted to read about a Parsi character or a book set in Saudi Arabia, I’d usually end up reading something written for adults. Though I found some excellent books in the process, such as A Fine Balance and Girls of Riyadh, these novels essentially focused on adult problems. I always, in some way, felt isolated from the rest of my peers who did see themselves in the books they read.

Teens deserve to have stories that are entirely their own—from a perspective they can completely relate to—especially marginalized teens.

LM: Was it difficult to write from a teenage perspective? How did you ensure the voice was authentic?

TB: When I first started writing professionally, I had a creative writing mentor who would always mark up my manuscript with one word—“Why?”—the main question being: Why is your character doing this?

Questioning your characters and their actions, to me, forms the cornerstone in writing them authentically, whether they’re teen or adult. I think things only become difficult or inauthentic when, as a writer, you tell yourself “this is how someone from this age group would typically behave,” and leave it at that without examining how they’re influenced by their upbringing, life experiences, their political and cultural environment along with their interests and personality. It leads to stereotyping and caricatures, when what you really want to do is connect to the individual within the character.

All that said, I definitely enjoy writing teens a lot more than I do adult characters.

LM: Can you describe Zoroastrianism to someone who knows nothing about it? How influential was it in writing this novel and in your life growing up?

TB: Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion that originated in ancient Iran and was propagated by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). It essentially revolves around the conflict between good and evil—represented by Ahura Mazda (God) and Ahriman (the Devil)—and predates Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Thousands of years ago, a group of Zoroastrians migrated from Iran to settle in India. They are known as Parsis and that’s where my heritage comes from.

Zoroastrianism isn’t a well-known religion—people often thought I was making things up when I told them about it or that Freddy Mercury was Parsi! Growing up, I’d often cringe at the stereotypical depictions of Parsi characters in Hindi movies. It’s not until I read books by Bapsi Sidhwa, Rohinton Mistry and Thrity Umrigar—Zoroastrian authors who authentically portray Parsi life in their books—that I finally was inspired to start writing my own stories, one of which eventually became A Girl Like That.

LM: A Girl Like That sheds some disturbing light on how women and teen girls in particular are viewed and treated in Saudi Arabia. Do you feel the western world is largely unaware of this treatment and was it part of your inspiration to write this novel?

TB: My main inspiration behind writing this novel was to depict a part of Saudi Arabia that few, if any, books have been written about—the world outside royal palaces and gated compounds—with a focus on the expatriate middle class, not all of whom are Saudi and/or Muslim.

These days the western world is more aware of what goes on in Saudi Arabia when it comes to women’s rights—and I think we need to thank Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and various Saudi bloggers and activists who have been disseminating accurate information online about the Kingdom.

However, there are instances when western media tends to propagate stereotypes, and this was my biggest concern while writing this book—I didn’t want to pander to this perspective. At the same time, I didn’t want censor myself the way I might have, had I still been living in Saudi Arabia. I simply wanted to tell a story and tell it honestly.

LM: Can you describe how you landed on the decision to have your main character die on the first page?

TB: I had this vague idea that I wanted to write a dark comedy where the main character was dead and looking down at the scene of their accident. The comedy idea was a flop, but Zarin Wadia’s voice came forth—strong, sarcastic and funny—and I just let things evolve organically from there.

LM: In A Girl Like That, Zarin experiences both online and physical bullying. What do you think the effect that bullying (online especially) has on the mental health of teens today?

TB: Online bullying has immense impact on mental health—especially since teens these days spend more and more time on their computers or phones, for studies and for entertainment. It’s easy to grow desensitized, to forget that there is another human being at the other end of your screen, reading your words, until something terrible happens.

While it’s important to create safe spaces for teens to interact with each other online and take measures to protect them from bullies, it’s equally important to encourage them to spend time offline and engage in other activities. Bullies only thrive on attention from the bullied—the less they get it, online or off, the less energy they possess.

LM: Zarin is a strong character who finds herself in full conflict with Saudi Arabia’s societal rules and expectations surrounding women. Do you think this is the norm in today’s society? Are teenagers in Saudi Arabia starting to push back against these laws?

Saudi Arabia is currently in an interesting position because after a long period of stagnancy, many changes are being implemented in a short time by the new regime.

They hosted their first ever public concert for men in early 2017 and most recently their first ever public concert for women. Jeddah hosted its first ever Comic Con—an event open to both sexes—which was surprising even to the people who live there. In June 2018, after years of activism, women will finally be allowed to drive. These may seem like small changes to a westerner, but if you’ve lived in the Kingdom for a long period of time, you know this is big.

A Girl Like That is set in 2014, so there are still many issues discussed in the novel that are still relevant today when it comes to women’s rights and societal perception of women in Saudi Arabia. I’m sure there will be pushback—change isn’t accepted easily anywhere—but I do think that young people in the Kingdom are ready for it. They’re more connected to the world through social media, are more vocal about their opinions, and they’re very aware of how they’re perceived.

The key will be to find a balance between preserving the best parts of Saudi culture and heritage and continuing to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

As per a communique from FEZANA….

FEZANA announces with great sorrow the passing away of Farhang Mehr.

Farhang Mehr passed away in southern California in the early morning on March 4, 2018.

Farhang Mehr was a leading Zoroastrian figure in Iran and later in the United States where he made his home since the early 1980’s

Farhang Mehr was involved with FEZANA since its inception and also with local Zoroastrian associations wherever he resides in USA.

He was one of only six recipients of the FEZANA Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to him for a lifetime of service to the Zarathushti community worldwide.

FEZANA and its member associations send their condolence to the entire Mehr family as we join Zarathushtis all over the world in celebrating his amazing life.

An article about his passing away on BBC Persia can be accessed at this link

Below is a 2003 article by Hormuzd A. Katki titled “ Doing What Is Right: God and People in Farhang Mehr’s Zoroastrianism” published on the Iranian.com

Zoroastrianism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion and the original religion of the Iranian people before Islam. Its tenets (known as the Gathas) were written 4,000 years ago. But today, its adherents are scattered all over the world and always live in societies in which theirs is not the majority faith.

Is Zoroastrianism compatible with other religions and the modern world? Does Zoroastrianism add something unique and important to the modern world? Every Zoroastrian must think about the relevance of Zoroastrianism in a modern multifaith society.

This question was the topic of an invited lecture given by Dr. Farhang Mehr at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Potomac, MD. His talk was sponsored by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC), the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, and by the U.S. Chapter of the World Zoroastrian Organization.

Dr. Mehr is most famous for rising through the ranks of the Iranian government under the late Shah, moving through the ministries of oil, tax, insurance and finance and eventually becoming Deputy Prime Minister. He managed this in spite of constitutional restrictions prohibiting non-Muslims from holding government positions.

His public and tireless crusade for equal rights for religious minorities in Iran makes him the leading Zoroastrian authority on this question. He has also been a powerful voice for reform within the Zoroastrian faith since his early 20’s when he established a young Zoroastrian’s association in opposition to the established Zoroastrian association in Tehran.

Today, he is a professor emeritus of International Relations at Boston University and just two days before gave a lecture on the impact of religion on politics in the Middle East, at the Library of Congress in Washington DC.

Dr. Mehr began by emphasizing to the audience that by focusing on the relevance of Zoroastrianism, he is not slighting other faiths. He went to great length to insist that polytheist religions are not inferior to monotheist religions. He could not define religion, but believes it consists of two main components:

(1) The nature and origin of creation, and

(2) The best life and how to be happy and succeed.

The first aim he feels is of secondary importance, and the realm of science has taken over answering that question today. For example, at one time religions prescribed what we should eat, but today medical science serves in that role.

The beauty of the Gathas, the sole words of Zarathustra himself, is that they ignore the first aim to concentrate on the second by providing a universal philosophy that does not go into specific details, details that are filled in by use of the rational mind. Thus the Gathas remain timeless yet relevant to society as it evolves through history.

The Gathas insist that all people have complete freedom to choose between right and wrong. This freedom of choice principle lays the groundwork for democracy and promotes dialogue and social justice.

Zoroastrianism promotes human rights via respect for other religions. Indeed, the cylinder of the Zoroastrian king Cyrus the Great declares that he has freed the people of his empire and allows them to follow their own religions. This cylinder is the first declaration of universal human rights in history.

Dr. Mehr stated that the most important fundamental principle of Zoroastrianism is Asha, the search for truth and the best actions, as well as the consequences of those actions. We are not children of God, but friends and coworkers with God, and it is our duty to advance this world by actively seeking Asha. But the consequences of our actions are fixed, and when we die there is no mercy for any misdeed we have committed.

The audience considered this to be a harsh view, especially as it led to Dr. Mehr insisting that the Iraqi people must share some of the blame for their terrible situation because they have not opposed their cruel leader strongly enough.

I could not help but feel as if Dr. Mehr was speaking to the Iranian people as well, exhorting them to resist their government if they feel that it is tyrannical.

At the end, the youth interfaith panel, chaired by Dr. Siva Subramanian of the IFC, asked questions. Consisting of Jehan Panthaki (Zoroastrian), Megan Guenther (Christian), Ahmed Hussain (Islam) and Leslie Casciato (Bahai), they posed many interesting questions.

Most notable was Megan’s question about how interfaith dialogue requires forgiveness of the past transgressions of religions upon each other and does this contradict Dr. Mehr’s belief in the lack of mercy for any bad deeds?

He was energized by this question and affirmed his faith in his belief, without disrespecting any faith that disagrees with this. He did however admit that an honest repentance is important and precedes a reconciliation brought about by a dialogue between the different faiths that convinces each other that they have harmony of mind. We must forgive when circumstances have changed and there is true goodwill between faiths, but God cannot forgive past transgressions.

When I finally met Dr. Mehr at the end of the talk, I asked him a burning question: in his youth, how did he get the courage to establish a young Zoroastrian’s association in opposition to his elders? Young Zoroastrians today continue to oppose our elders, especially on social issues such as interfaith marriage and conversion, and I was hoping for specific thoughts and guidance.

His response was simply that he thought it was the right thing to do, so he did it.

At the time, I was dissatisfied with this. But now I think it is the only possible response, and it stems from how he has lived his life: you must do what is right because you reap what you sow, but always be guided by the principles of freedom of choice and respect for humanity.

These principles are common to all religions and above the specific precepts of any, thus they provide the common ground upon which dialogue and understanding may be fostered.

Read the biography, Triumph Over Discrimination: The Life Story of Farhang Mehr, by Lylah M. Alphonse (December 22, 2000).

Since last year, the community has been trying to stop the rapid decline in the number of Zoroastrian priests through Jiyo Parsi and Jiyo Mobed Workshop

Article by Yesha Kotak | Hindustan Times

While there are speculations around the suspension of Ervad Merwan Nalladaru, a priest from Banaji Atash Behram, Charni Road, some members of the Parsi community have said that there will be fewer people to perform rituals in agiaries or fire temples.

“The priest in question can perform Nirangdin and Vandidad ceremonies (performed after midnight), which are considered to be the toughest ceremonies to be performed in our religion. There are very few priests in the country, who have the kind of knowledge that Ervad Merwan does,” said Rayomand Zaiwalla, lawyer. 

Nalladaru was given a suspension notice last month on the ground that he was overfeeding the Holy Varasyaji (holy bull), and has been asked to step down by the end of this month. While the trustees of the agiary were unavailable for comments, BH Antia, a trustee of the agiary, in a letter written on March 4, in a Parsi publication, called the allegations levelled by the community against the trustees ‘factually incorrect’. 

Since last year, the community has been trying to stop the rapid decline in the number of Zoroastrian priests through Jiyo Parsi and Jiyo Mobed Workshop. As part of the workshop, members of the priestly community were counselled and trained, so that they take can up a larger role in the affairs of the community. 

Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor, member of National Minorities Commission, said that the priest in the community were not given special preferences like that in other communities.

“It is a thankless job with no special benefits such as PF or medical benefits, which is why not a lot of them do not want to opt for it. Also, considering our population is anyways dwindling, we have lesser priest left,” said Dastoor.

Commodore Medioma Bhadha (Retd.) writes of a letter exchange between his brother Colonel Jehanbux Bhadha (Retd.) and himself, where Jehanbux speaks about his days as a Paratrooper in the Indian Army and stories of life then.

Cdr. Medioma Bhadha (Retd.) writes….

I had sent a copy of Marzban Giara’s book, Valiant Parsis to my brother, Col JS Bhadha, along with a bottle of Old Monk Rum, his favourite. He is settled in the US.

He was a Para Trooper and commanded the $ Para Batallion. He was the first to para-jump behind the enemy lines during the Bangladesh Operations.

Incidentally, there was a time when four Parsi officers commanded four different Para Batallions. He was one of them. 

Where have all the Parsis gone????

Attached is his reply.

Do read it and if found interesting, feel free to post it on Z-Newz.

Regards,

Medioma

Col. Jehanbux Bhadha writes…

January 27, 2018.

Hi there Medio,

Thank you for the book and the bottle.  Both equally important and enjoyable for me.  It was fun reading and having a Old Monk in my hand raised to my dear Ruby and you.  The book is interesting in itself and the things I remembered from the past, some unrelated to its contents, made the reading more interesting to me on a personal basis.  (Note:  The bottle was, sadly past tense, Old Monk and the book is Valiant Parsis.)

For instance I remembered my very first contact with Parsis in the Army before commissioning was two Instructors Captains Poonawala and Thacker.  At that time we were four Parsi cadets at the IMA.  Sam Doctor, Bawaadam, Sanjana and self.  Then it was Lt Gen SHFJ Maneckshaw, GOC 26 Inf Div who later retired as our Field Marshal.  After that he entered Yasmin’s and my lives on numerous occasions.  

The first SHFJ contact was when as a Second Lieutenant with 22 Maratha L.I. in 1958 I was in the swimming pool of the 26 Inf Div Offr’s Club in Jammu with other officers and families of my Battalion.  There I met Mrs Maneckshaw, Siloo and their daughter Sherry at the swimming pool.  I was of course teased by the officers and families of my Battalion for being a privileged one to know Sherry and her Mom.  I did not know them but it was Mrs. Maneckshaw who came over and met us all and then she and Sherry spent quite some time with me when they found out that I was a Bawa.  This was followed a few days later by my chance encounter with Gen Maneckshaw at his HQ in 26 Div.  I had gone to the HQ to see a Captain of the Ordnance Corps with whom I had done the Infantry Weapons Course in Mhow.  While I was in this Ord Offr’s office, Gen Maneckshaw strolled in, literally made himself comfortable on the edge of this officer’s desk informally and asked me what I was doing there.  When I mentioned that I was there to request for practice ammunition for our Battalion’s ARA team he turned around and told the Ord Offr to give me whatever I needed.  Then he asked me what I had planned for the Navroze which was up next week.  When I said I had no plans except to go along with routine in the Battalion he said I should come over and join him and the family for lunch on Navroze.  Imagine my embarrassment when the next day I was marched up before my Commanding Officer who demanded an explanation as to how a pip squeak like me got an invite for a private lunch at the GOC’s residence.  This was Navroze on March 21 1958.   

Then again soon after, I surprised a huge collective of officers of the Div at what you also would know is called a TEWT, Tactical Exercise without Troops.  This was somewhere on the main axis of the Pathankot-Srinagar route, a few miles away from Samba.  During the discussion Sam, if I may take the privilege of mentioning him as that, was listening in to all that was being discussed.  A simple question of crossing/guarding a huge culvert had us stymied for some time since there was a lot of flutter flying from Majors and above trying to impress the old man.  I shot my hand up and in the unabashed ways of the young suggested that we mine the culvert and surround it with anti tank guns.  There was what I call stunned silence.  In his usual gruff voice Sam turned around and said “Well stated Jumbo.  Let’s get along with it now chaps”.  The silence continued since it seemed out of the ordinary that a General Officer Commanding would know a pip squeak, call him by a nick name and offer a pat on the back.  

AS GOC 26 Inf Div, on his farewell visit to the Battalion Sam along with his wife Siloo and Sherry his daughter, visited us in Khunmuh which is a few miles out of Srinagar where we were incidentally located next to the Ordnance Ammunition Depot.  There once again he singled me out and commented on my earlier performance.  We were indulging in beer and gin n lime since the occasion was a farewell lunch for him.  As the wine member of the Mess I was guiding a waiter carrying the jug of beer serving the guests.  Sherry called out to me and asked me if I could gulp down the jug with one breath.  Youth and an early taste of good liquor were on my side and I took on the challenge and downed the jug full.  Until as recently as my last year of service with the Getty Museum in 2003 I was reminded about this feat, if you would call it that.  General S. N. Sabharwal (Retd) of my Regiment visited the Getty Museum and we had a good laugh on recalling the incident.  

After the ’71 ops in March ’72 Sam visited the Para Brigade to give us a pat on the back for the good work we had done during the ops and also to visit the 90,000 Pak POWs that the Brigade was holding for the Indian Army at Agra.  A dinner/dance was held at the Brigade Officers’ Mess for him and his entourage which Yasmin also attended.  She had already met Sam earlier on a couple of occasions.  One of the occasions was when in 1968 then Captain Behram Panthaky, Sam’s ADC, took her and her sister Freny to Sam’s office in the Army HQ.   During this evening dance post 71 ops, Yasmin walked up to Sam and asked for a dance.  I nearly sank into the Mess lawn where we were dancing.  But Yasmin got the old man talking and soon they were in earnest conversation when she stopped him mid-dance and asked to see his palm.  It appears that she wanted to see the line on the palm which proclaimed him to be a potential King or Ruler.  I continue to treasure a photograph of them both dancing that evening.   

Our paths crossed a number of times until long after both of us had retired from the Army.  The last time was when I was with The Oberoi in Bombay in 1987.  I found Sam standing at the front porch of the Oberoi waiting for his car.  To my surprise and great pleasure when I walked up to him he not only recognized me but also called me by name and asked after Yasmin.

Sam was indeed a great soul who did his duty by God and country.  His love for the troops was phenomenal.  His personality and sincerity gained him the respect and admiration of even the Pak rank and file evident from the reception he got from them when he visited the POW camp at Agra and addressed their officers.  He had a great sense of humor but was also dogged by controversy due to those who did not understand his style of talk.  His final days highlight his humble attitude and humor.  He left this earth as a Field Marshal and per custom and Army tradition/regulations should have been granted a Field Marshal’s pay and honors unto death.  Unfortunately the powers that were, disregarded his constant past flawless dedication and service.  Not only was he denied his pay of rank until nearly at death’s door, but while the Nation mourned the passing away of a gem none in the Government including all Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy or Air Force cared to pay their last respects or attend any of Sam’s final ceremony’s.  Shame on us. 

Love to Ruby & you,

Jumbo

82-year-old Col. Jehanbux Siavaxa Bhadha (Retd.), currently residing in Los Angeles (USA), was the first and only Parsi to lead a Republic Day Parade Contingent (in 1961). He was also the first Indian soldier to be Para-dropped behind enemy lines during the 1971 War Operations, when he led the Para-drop in erstwhile East Pakistan, making him head and participate in pioneering the Para-deployment by Independent India.

We are happy to hear that our good friend and award-winning journalist Teenaz Javat was awarded the “Absolutely Fabulous Woman Over 40 Achievement Award” by the City of Mississauga, on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018.

“By blood Indian, by bond Pakistani and by choice Canadian, would best describe Teenaz Javat, a senior writer at the CBC Toronto. Long before she became a journalist, Teenaz was a story teller. Her stories form part of The Shoe Project, a women-only artists collective that document immigration stories through the lens of shoes.

A multiple award winning journalist, Teenaz was part of a team at CBC Radio’s Metro Morning that won the Adrainne Clarkson National Award for a town hall on Domestic violence against women in the GTA. She does not shy away from taking a hard look at topics like Arab Spring and its impact on Canada, or the not-so- uncommon practice of female feticide among some communities in the GTA.

Teenaz came to Canada with an 8-month-old daughter. She has been a stay-at-home mother, a full-time student at Sheridan College, a full-time journalist at the CBC, and an adjunct professor at Sheridan college, all along volunteering in the local school system and editor of her community newsletter.

She lives in Mississauga with her husband Mahveer and children Sherezade and Hormuz. She loves having breakfast with her friends when she is not in the newsroom on the early morning shift.”

She acted in many movies and quite a few popular TV serials such as ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’ and ‘Zabaan Sambhal Ke’ among others.

Veteran actor Shammi, who acted in over 200 films and some popular television serials, passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was known for her impeccable comic timing. She was 89.

Born as Nargis Rabadi in a Parsi family, Shammi featured in many popular films, including Ustad Pedro, Bhai- Bahen, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi, Half Ticket, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Ittefaq, The Burning Train, Kudrat, Awara Baap, Swarg, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, and others. She also acted in quite a few popular TV serials, such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar.

Shammi was married to film producer director Sultan Ahmed for seven years, before they got divorced. Actor Amitabh Bachchan took to social media to express his grief over her demise.

“Shammi Aunty… Prolific actress, years of contribution to the industry, dear family friend…passes away…! A long suffered illness, age. Sad… slowly slowly they all go away,” Bachchan said in a post on Twitter.

Former Congress MP Priya Dutt, the daughter of late actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, also expressed her condolences. “Shammi, aunty to me and a great actor of yesteryears, passed away today. She was my mother’s dear friend and someone we all loved very much. May her soul rest in peace and her laughter and contagious smile rock the heavens. Be In peace with your friends,” she tweeted.

A local Indian TV channel shot this short documentary on Udvada and the Iranshah Atashbehram. The documentary has some very unique aerial drone videography that shows aerial views of Udvada and the Iranshah Atashbehram that is probably a first. Those that have been interviewed, sadly show a certain lack of knowledge about the Iranshah Atashbehram itself.

Udvada, a scenic coastal hamlet located a couple of hours drive from Surat boasts of one of the most important fire temples of the Parsi community – The Udvada Atash Behram. Also hailed as the “Iran Shah” this temple is one of the oldest fire temples in India. Literally meaning “the victorious fire” the Atash Behram attracts thousands of Zoroastrian pilgrims from all over the country and beyond. With folded hands and bowed heads, devotees throng here to connect with their spiritual selves. In addition to providing solace, the Udvada Atash Behram will reveal to you divinity in its all its grandeur.

Check out the video above.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day we feature an Op-Ed by our very dear friend and mentor Dolly Dastoor

March 8 proclaimed by United Nations in 1977 as International Women’s day

On this special day we wish to congratulate Zarthushti women all over the world on their achievements big and small. Much has been achieved in all fields which were once considered male bastions. Our women have been in the forefront of all fields, politics, culture, music, arts, science, finance. Much has been achieved but much needs to be done. Zarathushti women have superficial gender equality but we need to continue to work for acceptance of all women into religions ceremonies irrespective as to whom they are married to.

International Women’ Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history. It is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war, during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for “liberty, equality, fraternity” marched on Versailles to demand women’s rights to vote. n Canada till 1929 , women were not considered ”persons” and hence had no vote.

Today for most of us reading this we cannot even imagine those times.

But has much changed since then? Women are still demanding equal rights and demanding a life free of violence, rape and sexual abuse at all levels from the highest echelons of government to the lowest village.

The idea of an International Women’s Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in an industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies. The first National Women’s day was established by a group of socialist women in the United States in 1908. This act inspired an international event.

This day is an occasion marked by women’s groups around the world. Women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural economic and political differences come together to celebrate their day. They can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice peace and development.

But for many many women and girls across the world violence is a fact of life, violence only because of their gender. Rape and sexual assault has become a weapon of war, there has been no other time in history when there have been more widows as a result of armed conflict.

Of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women , 80% of the world’s 27 million refugees are women. Women do two-thirds of the world’s work but receive only 10% of the world’s income.

We in North America are fortunate to be where we are but many many of our sisters continue to suffer from being uprooted, their lives turned upside down, starvation, abuse and are helpless to do anything about it and the world is silent as in the case of the Kurdish Zoroastrians,being blown apart in Afrin., Syria But it took one woman Awat to fight for their cause, It took the Peshmerga army of women to fight the aggressors. We are haunted by their suffering but inspired by their courage. We need to let their voices be heard.

As women of faith may we all continue to strive for a better and more peaceful world for our children and grandchildren

Yatha Zanyad, yatha afrinami

Dolly Dastoor