“I am no seer but I can say it with confidence.. we are moving in the right direction.”
The Empowering Mobeds programme with the theme of Moving Online kicked off on the morning of 13th May , 2018 at the Dadar Athornan Institute, Mumbai. After breaking away from the Jiyo Parsi programme, this was the first workshop conducted under the auspices of the Athornan Mandal and the WZO Trust Funds, very ably coordinated by Mrs Binaifer Sahukar and her dynamic team.
Article by Ervad Sheherazad Pavri
The attendees were mostly priests from Mumbai, some of their spouses and even one Er Rohinton Karanjia , who like the last time, made it a point to attend , all the way from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.
With the invocation prayers chanted by Er Kaizad Karkaria, the initial session started off with Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur urging the priestly class to make a difference by adopting a more outward and broad mindset. He also mentioned a better way of connecting to the laity by sending them good wishes through text messages with blessings such as “Tandarosti” and “Garothman Behest” as compared to the usual HBDs and RIPs. He also encouraged the priests to make the use of technology to train priests, highlighting a success story of the North American Mobeds Council. The session progressed further with inputs from Er Hormuz Dadachanji and Er Cyrus Darbari, highlighting the mismanagement of social media by being very trigger friendly of the forward button on Whatsapp. The audience was encouraged to refrain from the same while taking efforts to verify facts and spreading false rumours to the detriment of the community. Er Darayesh Katrak, who being a Trustee of a fire temple, also a priest and an ex-employee with a leading MNC spoke about the power of prayers in uniting a community . He has recently started the Behram Yazad Shrine at the Dadyseth Atashbehram in Mumbai after being inspired on his last trip to Iran and encouraged Humbandagis(Group Prayers) as a means of uniting the community. The use of social media was welcomed by all , understanding that it truly is a Double Edged Sword.
After a Jiyo Parsi presentation on the updated schemes involving assistance in raising children and care for senior citizens , a quick tea break was succeeded by a panel discussion . The panel was unique mix of media, etymology, advertising, IT security, neurochemical science and humour. Shernaaz Engineer, editor Jam-e-Jamshed while appreciating the wonders of social media encouraged the priests to pen articles , highlighting the power of print and giving people a reason to cut out and preserve cuttings of snippets of Religious Treasure over the years. Dr Mazda Turel , also a priest, spoke about how humour brings about togetherness while being a turn on to the opposite sex as also its role in healing people. Eminent psychiatrist Dr Kersi Chavda touched upon a very interesting concept of the power of words- describing them as not mere strings of alphabets but tools that can inspire or destroy oneself. He encouraged rephrasing of words and using them as effective communication triggers for empathising with people. Berjes Shroff, an IT professional who recently started his own company urged the gathering to be wary of what they share on social media while keeping in mind the new age laws that can land one into trouble for misinforming people. The advertising expert Rayomand J. Patell, who is also an automobile buff addressed the priests as Warriors of the Light. Weaving through a story of pictures, he encouraged optimal use of multiple social media platforms in digitally promoting messages.
The penultimate session involved 3 young priests sharing their recent experiences. Er Sheherazad Pavri, a young entrepreneur and also a practicing priest presented the short video created to showcase the recently concluded World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum in the UK where a group of youngsters from various parts of the globe united in strategizing , planning and implementing programmes to tackle the various problems plaguing the community. Er Firdaus Pavri excellently explained his journey from being bored to the core to embracing the servitude towards the Holy Fire through the correct guidance and mentorship. The Panthaky and Boiwalla of an agiary who is also an avid blogger, foodie and travel enthusiast , Firdaus shared how social media had empowered him to grow and love his occupation while enjoying the love of labour which really wowed the audience. Er Jehan Darbari, an alumnus of the Dadar Athornan Institute added to the above, stating the role of media in giving him the recognition and encouragement to pursue priesthood fulltime.
Post a quick lunch catered under the auspices of Mr Jimmy Gadiwala, Ms Delphi Wadia initiated the final session on Communication Skills. It was a very engaging session where the priests learned about the nuances of communication. She definitely handled the post lunch period in a very eloquent manner, while training the gathering how to communicate a message to someone in the best way possible using the right confidence, body language, dressing style and posture.
All this would not have been possible without the efforts of Mr Dinshaw Tamboly who has always championed noble causes.
The Empowering Mobeds Programme plans to hold its next workshop in the month of July and invites more Mobeds to participate and engage in discussions to come up with solutions of upliftment and betterment of the clergy.
I know Rome was not built in a day; the challenges and problems teething the priestly class are humungous and the lack of being identified as professionals coupled with financial insecurity discouraging the younger generation to shy away from priesthood, the grooming of priests through such workshops is really refreshing! I am no seer but I can say it with confidence.. we are moving in the right direction! Thank You Jiyo Mobed
Run-up to the inauguration, however, has been marked by a debate among Parsi-Zoroastrians about the rules of entry into the fire temple
Today, Zoroastrians from Navi Mumbai will inaugurate their first fire temple, 11 years after it was conceived. There are between 300 and 400 Zoroastrians in Navi Mumbai. In the absence of a local place to worship, community members would travel to fire temples in Thane, Dadar or Bandra.
Since May 9, priests have been consecrating the holy fire that will be the central feature of the shrine. Zoroastrian religion accords different grades to holy fires and Navi Mumbai temple will be designated as a ‘dadgah’, which is of a lower grade than agiaries and atash behrams, highest category, of fire temples of which there are less than 10 in the world — four in Mumbai.
The run-up to the inauguration, however, has been marked by a debate among Parsi-Zoroastrians about the rules of entry into the fire temple. There were messages in Zoroastrian social forums that Navi Mumbai fire temple’s trust deeds mentions Zoroastrians as beneficiaries. This has alarmed orthodox members of the community who use the term Parsi-Irani-Zoroastrians to describe themselves.
For India’s Parsis, their distinction as an ethnoreligious group has been at the core of their identity. Only descendants of Zoroastrians who escaped to India a millennium ago to escape religious persecution in Persia (now Iran) are called Parsis. Another group of Zoroastrians that migrated to India a century ago from Iran are called Iranis and they have mostly assimilated into the older community.
Yazdi Desai, chairman of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), community’s largest representative body, explained why there is a concern that non-Parsis will be allowed into the Navi Mumbai shrine.
“In recent years, there have been many non-Parsis abroad who practice Zoroastrianism. There are Tajiks and Azerbaijanis who have become Zoroastrians. There are people in the West who have converted to the religion. They are not Parsis,” said Desai.
Desai, who wrote to Navi Mumbai fire temple, asking them to clarify, said the trust deeds of all fire temples in India specifically mentions that only Parsi-Zoroastrians can worship there.
“The trust deeds — of Mumbai shrines — do not even mention Irani-Zoroastrians (because the shrines predate their arrival, though they worship at the shrines),” said Desai. “Allowing entry to non-Parsis will kill our religion.”
Another issue of debate is the nature of the fire at the shrine. Zoroastrian tenets require holy fires are consecrated from seven sources, including lightning. “Such fires have not been created in the last century and currently, there are no priests who can create such a fire,” said Desai. “So how the Navi Mumbai trust claim to have created a holy fire?”
When the plans for the Navi Mumbai fire temple were first made, it was proposed to shift the fire from a less frequented shrine run by the BPP in Mumbai to the new place. “In 2016 they came to us and we asked them to show the trust deed. They did not and we refused to shift the fire,” said Desai. The trustees of the Navi Mumbai could not be reached for a comment.
Even if the Navi Mumbai fire temple allows non-Parsis into its premises, it will not be first one. In the past, members of a group called the Association for the Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ) converted a flat in Colaba into a prayer hall that was open to non-Parsis. “It was not a permanent arrangement. The lady who had given the flat to us had allowed us to use the space on condition that we will vacate it when her son (who lived abroad) visited India,” said Vispy Wadia of ARZ.
The place has closed down. In December, members of a group who are known in the community as ‘reformist’ for their campaigns to accept mixed marriages and non-traditional methods of funerals, inaugurated a fire temple in Pune which is open to anyone who wants to pray there. The fire temple provides religious services like navjotes or (initiation ceremonies (like baptism in Christianity) for children of mixed parentage. Unlike the Colaba prayer hall the Pune facility is a dadgah (one of the several grades of fire temples) with daily religious ceremonies and priests.
Shirinbai and Khurshedji Hormusji Doongaji Daremeher
Navi Mumbai gets its first Fire Temple at Kopar Khairne
Parsis celebrate after the new fire temple at Kopar Khairane was inaugurated on Monday. After the idea to build a fire temple or dadgah was first conceived 11 years ago, Shirinbai and Khurshedji Hormusji Doongaji Daremeher was inaugurated at Kopar Khairane on Monday.
Inauguration of the dadgah — third category of holy fire, which is lower than agiaries and atash behrams — comes 18 years after Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi Agiary was built at Godrej Baug in December 1999.
“The fire is being consecrated at the spot for the past five days. Today [Monday] the final rituals were completed. Since we are still awaiting clearance from court, we haven’t been able to get fire from other agiary. But once we get a go ahead, we will get that too. But only Parsis/Irani -Zoroastrians are allowed inside the temple,” said Farokh Bachana, trustee, Shirinbai and Khurshedji Hormusji Doongaji Daremeher.
In 2016, a few members of the Parsi community had approached Bharuch district and sessions court with a plea to stay shifting of 700-year-old fire from Bharuch’s Pestonji Aslaji Doongaji Agiary.
The area, which has around 60 families with 250 members, registered with New Bombay Zoroastrian Association Charitable Trust saying they do not have any temple around and the members are forced to travel to fire temples in Thane, Dadar or Bandra.
“Minor ceremonies such as post-funeral rituals can be performed here. There is an old age home for community members behind and a party hall managed by the same trust is adjacent to the temple,” said Noshir Mistry, resident of Nerul.
Another controversy which had stalled the inauguration of the fire temple was the earlier proposal to allow non-Parsis onto its premises, which was eventually cancelled. Earlier, an apartment in Colaba was converted into a prayer hall that was open to non-Parsis. It was eventually shut. Currently, a fire temple in Pune allows entry to non-Parsis.
Dasturji Khurshed K Dastur, high priest of the Udvada and the Zoroastrian representative on the National Commission for Minorities, said that Parsi Anjuman had put in a lot of efforts for this fire temple.
“It has been specifically stated that the place is only for Parsis and people who came for the function came with good faith. But, some people in the community have to simply play politics over smallest of issues,” Dastur said.
Hello World is a beautiful new story book retold by Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi and illustrated by Gulshan Pagdiwala. As described, it tells the simplified version of the Zoroastrian Story of Creation.
Book review by Mehernaaz and Ava Irani
This book, sitting there at the table im mediately caught my eye and as I went to it, Ava was drawn too. The illustrations are superb and excite the imagination in a colourful and engaging way. Just flipping the cover made my daughter go wow! The inner cover pages are a colourful celestial image. The kind of Dadaji’s home my multi colour obsessed 4 year old would love to believe is the truth.
To be honest, I didn’t even know there was a creation story in our faith. So we quickly dived in. For me, it was a learning experience at a micro level. For Ava, it was literally a door opening on how God thought. She learnt about Ahriman and actually used the name then as part of her vocab to refer to bad things, including everyday things like littering her surroundings. The creation of the world and the protection that Ahura Mazda bestowed upon his creations shows up wonderfully. The storytelling itself is, I think probably intended for older children, but older kids are a little out of stock currently in our home. There were some concepts and words which I found difficult to explain to a 4 year old but on the whole she got the story. An 8 year old (I guess.. there’s no age suggestion) would devour the book. The death of Gayomard and the birth of the first man and the first woman and their beautiful story, was like a little story within the story and I got the opportunity to explain to my daughter about patience and how it was a virtue.
And every page turn made Ava’s eyes wide. The illustration for Ahriman evokes the negativity it intends. The Amesha Spentas are ethereal. My favourite was Ameretat, avestan name of the Pahlavi Amardad meaning immortality. And in some ways, the illustrations speak for themselves. Just flipping the pages, Ava remembered the story in bits but figured the rest out only by looking at the pictures.
A neat addition to the book is the Notes at the end of the book. There’s alternate names for the Amesha Spentas mentioned earlier in the book. It also asks questions, that a young Zoroastrian would ask or should ask. However, some of these questions aren’t open ended and it might have been nice to have answers, e.g. who wrote the Zoroastrian story of creation? Where does it come from?
A most important take away from this book was when Ahura Mazda thought about being so good that evil can have no power over it. I could literally see my daughter think about this one.
I loved this book because it told me a story I didn’t know existed about our faith (nobody’s fault but mine). There are many about the birth and life of Zarathustra and various other concepts of our religion. This one is refreshing and new. For those who know this story already, it’s a wonderful read with colourful pleasing illustrations that make the story jump out of the pages. It opened up a conversation about creation, Ahura Mazda and Ahriman and good and evil for my 4 year old and is equipped to keep that conversation going. That, in my mind makes this a must have.
The book shall be released in mid-June this year and should be available on Amazon.com
Dressed in regular ‘nighties’ with a dash of sacred ash on their forehead, Rathi and Dhan Kavina could easily pass off as Malayalis.
But a look around their modest flat reveals a picture of Prophet Zarathustra on the wall, as well as a prayer note with the Faravahar (symbol of Zoroastrianism), pasted behind the front door. The sisters, into their seventies, are the only remaining members of the Kavina family, one of the only two Parsi families in Kerala today.
But neither Rathi nor Dhan are too concerned about their Persian roots, or the fact that they don’t share a God with many others in the State. “God is one, only the names are different,” says Rathi, the older of the two, a perpetual smile playing on her lips. On a shelf in the bedroom are pictures of Gods of all religions, besides that of their late parents and brother, with rows of small lamps before them.
“We celebrate all festivals including Onam, Christmas, Vishu besides Zoroastrian festivals,” they say. In fact, when their brother was alive, they used to go on pilgrimages to various temples, as well as the Anjuman Baug, the only Parsi Fire Temple in Kerala, situated near SM Street, Kozhikode. “We worship the fire and recite a prayer in Gujarati to Ahura Mazda (the Lord of Wisdom) every day. But we don’t have a holy book. Our only motto in life is: good words, good thoughts and good deeds,” says Rathi.
Their family settled in Kerala after their parents moved to Thrissur from Ahmedabad, home to one of the largest communities of Parsis. Their father, Padamsha Kavina, had come to work in a textile mill in Thrissur, and the two sisters were born here. “We attended school and college in Thrissur, and have lived here all our lives,” says Rathi. While their brother started a textile business later, where Rathi assisted him, Dhan has been a home-bird all her life. “I’m the one who does all the shopping and banking, but I don’t even know how to make a cup of tea. Dhan is a great cook and homemaker,” Rathi says with a laugh.
The sisters speak fluent Malayalam and English, and a bit of Gujarati, but can’t read or write either of the Indian languages. “When we were young, our relatives from Gujarat used to ask us why we were speaking English at home. So, we didn’t fit in completely with them. But since we were not Malayalis, we didn’t fit in here completely either,” says Rathi, but again with a laugh.
However, in keeping with the Parsi tradition of not marrying outside the community, none of the three siblings got married. “When we were younger, our parents used to discuss our marriages. But we didn’t want to leave Kerala,” says Rathi. “After a while our parents realised that there was no use asking us. They decided that they just want us to be happy.”
As they have never left Kerala, they have never attended a Parsi wedding, nor are they aware of the much-debated Parsi death rituals of exposing corpses to scavenger birds. “Our parents and brother were cremated in Kozhikode, at the Anjuman Baug,” says Rathi. The only other Parsi family in Kerala, the Marshalls, is in Kozhikode and take care of the Fire Temple. “There used to be a renowned Paris surgeon in Thrissur — Hirji Sorab Adenwalla – our very good friend. But he is now settled in Coonoor post retirement,” says Rathi.
The sisters remember a time when their parents were alive, when they would celebrate Navroz, the Parsi New Year. “We would wear new clothes and mummy would cook special dishes. Our Malayali friends too used to wish us ‘happy new year’. Mummy used to be a great cook and did all kinds of embroidery. She would wear the sari Gujarati style, and she trusted everyone,” she recalls.
Their brother died in 2009 and their cousins in Ahmedabad too have passed away. Didn’t they ever feel like going back to Gujarat? “Never. My parents too never wanted to leave Kerala. We always had plenty of Malayali friends. People ask us what we will do when we grow older. But Kerala is home to us. We are happy here. We trust fully in God.”
It has been brought to our attention by numerous people, that a fake email supposedly sent by Parsi Khabar is doing the rounds. This email was sent out yesterday from a fictitious email address and used the Parsi Khabar masthead from the website as its banner.
The email contains vile language and falsifications; and casts aspersions on individuals and institutions.
We do not know who has sent this out, but since it has been sent out using our name and masthead; we feel it is necessary to inform our readers about this.
Parsi Khabar has nothing to do with the sender of that email. We do not know who it is. We will pursue all options available to report this to the relevant cybercrime bodies.
All emails from Parsi Khabar always come from the email address news@parsikhabar.net
Anything that you see on an email from Parsi Khabar is first posted on the website.
If you try to picture Rabindranath Tagore – especially if you are a fan of the bard and his literary works and remembered his recent birth anniversary – you will visualise his trademark silver beard and a kurta that almost touches the ground. However, fasion experts say that the poet was not just prolific with his words, but also in his sense of style.
“Tagore fashioned his kurta to resemble an androgynous style,” says fashion and interior designer Sandeep Sarkar, who designed the clothes for Elar Char Adhyay, a movie based on the Tagore novel, Char Adhyay. “He was quite fashion conscious and ensured that his own image would be a reflection of his beliefs.”
In an era, where women had only begun to venture outdoors, the poet had already conceptualised androgynous clothing, which is a rage today. It was not just Tagore, but his entire family that was fashion-forward. At Jorashanko (Rabindranath Tagore’s home in Kolkata) different drapes of sari were improvised on so that women could step out of the andarmahal (inner house) where they were relegated. This had Tagore’s sister-in-law, Jnanadanandini Devi, bringing the Parsi way of draping the sari from Mumbai to Bengal.
“Chitra Deb, in her book Thakurbarir Andarmahal, describes the entire process of how the Parsi sari was adapted into Bengali culture,” says Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor in Santiniketan’s Visva-Bharati University.
Although the Parsi drape, which included blouse and petticoat, was much less cumbersome than the conventional atpoure style of the time, Jnanadanandini and her friend Maharani Suniti Devi of Coochbehar, finally managed to create something that would make the Bengali woman’s life much easier. And thanks to the advertising that the Tagore lady put out in the local papers, women from upper crust Bengali society, and eventually the rest of India, began to dress in this fashion. “Jnanadanandini’s daughter Indira Debi and her friend Suridhi Debi further improvised on the sari, bringing it closer to its modern avatar,” he adds.
“Even Rabindranath’s father Debendranath Tagore had created a rather cumbersome ‘oriental dress’ so that women could step out, but it included many pieces of cloth in a mishmash of fashions,” says Indrani Das, erstwhile curator of the gallery at Jorashanko.
While the Tagores were revolutionising the sari in Jorashanko, Tagore’s centre for learning, Santiniketan, was where different artistic techniques were brought in from across the world to blend into the local artwork and fashion. “An instance of this is when Tagore visited Java in 1927 along with architect Suren Kar and Nandalal Bose’s student, Dhirenkrishna Deb Barman,” says Sushovan Adhikari, ex-curator of Kalabhavan Library, Vishwabharati. “They minutely studied the batik technique prevalant in Indonesia and brought it to Santiniketan.”
Indonesia batik work is done using a special metallic pen through which wax is dripped onto cloth to create intricate designs of mostly religious motifs from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and then dyed. Tagore and his companions modified this technique to paint wax onto cloth using brushes, creating intricate floral and paisley designs on saris and shawls, and eventually leather, using a technique brought in from Germany by Tagore’s son Debendranath. “At Santiniketan, many other Indian arts were also modified – such as bandhani from Rajasthan, or chikankari work from Lucknow which mingled with the indigenous kantha stitch,” adds Adhikari.
But it is in his literature that Tagore, the fashion designer finds his ultimate expression. The late director of Elar Char Adhyay, Bappaditya Bandopadhyay, had commented on the detailing of costumes in Tagore’s novel. “Shesher Kobita is another novel where his knowledge of fashion finds expression,” says Mukhopadhyay. “Through it, you can see that Tagore had a definite sense for the fashion trends – both of the traditional women and the westernised upper classes.”
While Tagore’s contribution to the world of literature is widely lauded, it is the Tagore family’s endeavours in fashion that altered the cultural fabric of India and brought women out of homes and to the forefront.
A festering family dispute among the eight partners of Parsi Dairy Farm has finally been resolved with one of the partners, Urvaksh Naval Hoyvoy, who was jailed last month, retiring. Hoyvoy, who was held for fraud and fabricating a power of attorney, will walk away with Rs14 crore as his share as part of the agreement. The amount will be paid to him over the next one year.
Article by Nauzer Bharucha | Times of India
Seven women of the family, in the age-group of 53 to 85 years, had dragged their cousin and nephew Hoyvoy to court. They also filed a police complaint against him for cheating, forgery, breach of trust, criminal intimidation and conspiracy.
Based on the FIR filed at Azad Maidan police station, Hoyvoy, 55, was arrested and sent to police custody on April 19. But the women decided not to oppose Hoyvoy’s bail application after he agreed to step down as partner, take his share and cut all links with the firm. The firm has its landmark mithai and milk products shop at Princess Street and a 300-acre property in Talasari on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
On April 30, the partners filed consent terms in the chamber of Justice SJ Kathawalla of Bombay high court to resolve the dispute. Besides Parsi Dairy Farm, the family runs a vegetarian restaurant called Dairyland on its Talasari property. Hoyvoy, who used to run another restaurant, Parsi Da Dhaba, on the same property, has shut it following the settlement.
According to the consent terms, Urvaksh has “forthwith” retired from the firm with full and final payment to him towards his share (lump sum Rs14 crore). The main petitioner, Meher Patel, who filed the arbitration plea in HC along with other partners, then agreed to give her “unconditional no-objection to grant of bail” to Hoyvoy. She also agreed to withdraw the police complaint against Hoyvoy and his wife Amy.
“Urvaksh Hoyvoy shall have no right, title or interest in any asset or business of the firm or any other claim against the continuing partners,” the terms of the agreement said. He will also transfer any intellectual property rights subsisting with him in relation to the trademark/brand name including Dairyland, Dairyland Products and Parsi Dairy Farm. His name would be removed from land records of the Talasari plot.
The dispute mainly revolved around the 300-acre land, which the family has been trying to dispose of for some years and divide the money equally among partners. The family accused Hoyvoy of “fraud” by creating a fabricated power of attorney in his name to control the property. Meher Patel, with other partners, said early this year, a person called Hemandra Gandhi had informed them he had purchased two plots from Hoyvoy. It was found the Hoyvoys and one Jeevan Barvadia had formed a company, Dairy Land Farm House Pvt Ltd, to sell portions of the plot.
The company collected Rs1.5 crore from investors as booking amount. Patel said this was a conspiracy. The partners found out agriculture land was converted into non-agriculture land. They also said Hoyvoy was collecting money and “wrongfully” creating encumbrances and liabilities on the land. He had “falsely and fraudulently” represented the firm’s land as the land of Dairy Land Farm House and “collected advances from numerous people towards proposed allotment upon development of the project,” they added.
In his affidavit, Hoyvoy said in 2005-06, his lawyer Shaukat Merchant introduced him to Najmuddin Meghani, a lawyer from Surat. Meghani would help him identify people in a position to raise money to develop the land. Hoyvoy said in 2006, Meghani introduced him to one Jivanbhai Barvadia of Surat, who was capable of developing the land. “Around that point of time, under advice of my lawyer Shaukat Merchant, I signed unregistered agreements and documents,” said the affidavit.
In a significant order, the Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) board to give a hearing to five high priests and trustees of two Atash Behrams and several litigants—Parsis—who challenged the Mumbai Metro 3 project route as it runs under the two Consecrated fires at Princess Street junction in south Mumbai.
After the HC expressed its desire to stay drilling work and post the matter post vacation to June, MMRCL counsel Girish Godbole requested that his statement be recorded that the drilling work would not touch the Atash Behrams till next date on June 14.
Shyam Mehta, counsel, and advocate Zerick Dastur representing petitioners, who included structural engineer Jamshed Sukhadwalla and priest Rooyintan Peer, wanted a stay on the up tunnel running under the Atash Behram which have three fires each which cannot have their link to the earth centre broken.
Shyam Mehta, counsel, and advocate Zerick Dastur representing petitioners, who included structural engineer Jamshed Sukhadwalla and priest Rooyintan Seer, wanted a stay on the tunnel.
The court directed the state, MMRDA and MMRCL to file their replies to the petition. Justice S J Kathawalla and Justice Ajay Gadkari, comprising the bench, also expressed unhappiness over why all the high priests were not consulted by MMRCL before the project and why only two had gone for a meeting with the chief minister.
The bench asked where the high priests and trustees of the two Atash Behrams were and why were they not in court. When informed that one of the Atash Behrams has not accepted service of the petition while one had, Justice Kathawalla also said that “if the trustees of Atash Behram are not interested in coming to court for such an important matter they should resign.”
“Has the trustee explained or priest addressed the community,” the HC asked after MMRCL counsel said two priests had been explained everything. The HC questioned why the CM was holding the meeting.
Shyam Mehta, at the hearing before the vacation bench, said, “The MMRCL said they won’t go under sanctum sanctorum. We said they can’t go under the Atash Behram at all. There are three fires there.”
Mehta said that in April 2018, high priests wrote to the Prime Minister too against Mumbai Metro 3. These are not the priests who went to the CM, he clarified when asked by the court.
There are five high priests of which one is silent. Four have written that the tunnel can’t go under the temple which is a heritage site dating to 1830, said Mehta.
The MMRCL board of directors comprising Ashwini Bhide, UPS Madan, Ajoy Mehta, AA Bhat and Rahul Asthana will hold the meeting before the next hearing on a date to be fixed later.
India’s first ‘open agiary’ mainly caters to ex-communicated Parsis, i.e. those who have married out of their community, and their children, and Zoroastrian enthusiasts who want to learn more about the religion.
A fire temple for Parsis ex-communicated may sound like an oxymoron in terms of the traditional view — the fire temple, or agiary as it is known, is only for Parsis defined by marriage within the community only.
Pune’s Zoroastrian centre has hosted nine navjots, three funeral prayer ceremonies and two weddings. (Shankar Narayan/HT Photo)
Yet, the first fire temple for Parsis who have been excluded from the traditional places of worship is as busy, if not busier, than most of the agiaries in the city. Since its launch in December 2017, in Kondhwa, the Dadgah Asha Vahishta Zoroastrian centre has hosted nine navjots, three funeral prayer ceremonies and two weddings.
The Zoroastrian centre was inaugurated on December 25, 2017, under the umbrella of the association for the revival of Zoroastrianism. The claim is that this is India’s first agiary open to Parsis who have married out of their community, and their children. Zoroastrian enthusiasts who want to learn more about this religion are also welcome.
The association for revival of Zoroastrianism is a public charitable trust registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act 1950, since September 2004.
“That the idea of opening such a centre has been accepted has indeed surprised me,” says Mumbai resident Vispy Wadia, one of the brains behind the centre.“It is universal knowledge that the population of Parsis is declining very rapidly. We are all also aware that, in India, inter-married Parsis and their children are not allowed to freely practice the religion …”
“Zoroastrianism is a revealed universal religion and there is no scope of discrimination in this noble faith. Moreover, there has been a long standing demand for a place where Zoroastrians married to people of other faith could freely practice the religion and perform their religious duties.We, therefore, set up the centre in Pune, so that these Zoroastrians and their children are provided the requisite religious infrastructure…” he added.
The centre was originally to be in Goregaon, Mumbai, but then Pune seemed to offer less resistance. Given the city’s proximity to Mumbai and a growing ‘ex’-Zoroastrian population, currently at 6,000, NIBM road, Kondhwa, was picked as the place for the new-age Zoroastrian, married outside the community, to worship. This fire temple, on NIBM road, cost ₹2.5 crore to build. The agiary has a community hall, prayer hall, library and the holy fire – called the dadgah fire.
With a shrill toot, the autorickshaw rumbled to a stop next to us as we walked into the village. “Ice cream?” offered the gentleman behind the wheel as he gestured to the mound of creamy mango confection nestled in an ingenious ice-lined wooden barrel sitting snugly in the rear of the vehicle. A friend and I were in the seaside village of Udvada in south Gujarat, home to the earliest Parsi immigrants to India.
The hand-churned ice cream was an unexpected bonus that kicked off a weekend trip from Ahmedabad.
The Arabian Sea is only half the beauty of this charming coastal village—the other half lies in its historical significance. Udvada is believed to be one of the first places where the Parsis landed when they fled Arab rule in Iran between the eighth and 10th centuries. The town is known for the Iranshah Atash Behram, one of the oldest sacred-fire Zoroastrian temples in India, which attracts Parsis from across the world.
While only practising Zoroastrians can enter the temple, Udvada has plenty of other things to offer—history, architecture, cuisine and slice-of-life cameos of this ancient culture. Abandoned houses tell evocative tales of migration and change, and the essence of Udvada can be savoured by wandering down its narrow streets and soaking in the village life.
The town is best explored on foot and at leisure. We started at the Zoroastrian Heritage Museum, housed in an old bungalow near the rocky beach. As we strolled through the town, we discovered that it’s a photographer’s delight—lovely houses with a distinctive architectural style characterized by high ceilings, sloping roofs and double-porch entrances. Udvada’s mansions seem to feature a blend of Portuguese and Persian influences, visible in the intricate floral grilled balconies, lattice-worked wooden facades and ornate columns with Persian scrolls or other motifs.
Zoroastrianism is believed to be one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, and images of the Prophet Zoroaster, dressed in white robes, can be seen everywhere in Udvada. In some of the homes, we could see residents relaxing on swings or aaram khursis (reclining chairs), enjoying the evening sea breeze.
Along the tapering road opposite the temple, pop-up style cafés offer visitors an array of home-made cookies and fish pickles. We also hopped between Globe Hotel, Ashishvangh and Café Farohar to try favourites like the marinated boi fry (white mullet fish), akuri (scrambled eggs), salli boti (chicken or mutton gravy topped with potato sticks), dhansak (lentils with meat), and patio (fish or prawn curry). Meals were accompanied by a bottle of refreshing Sunta raspberry soda.
In the evening, we made a pit stop at the only Irani bakery in town, sampling their mawa cakes, nankathai biscuits and buttery, flakey kharis (puff pastry biscuits). Before we bid adieu, I packed some mawa cake and coconut cookies to take the flavours of Udvada back with me.
In less than a week, the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress shall begin in Perth Australia. This is a Congress of a few firsts. It is the first in the Southern Hemisphere and the first in Australia.
Team Australia and worldwide supporters of the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress extend a hearty welcome to you and thank you for visiting our website!
For the first time in the history of the Zoroastrian community, the Congress is being held in the southern hemisphere in Australia. Perth, Western Australia is hosting from Friday, 1 June to Monday, 4 June 2018.
Zoroastrians from around the world will meet in Perth, network, discuss, debate, form friendships and enjoy the time together.
Australian Zoroastrians from all over, including Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth welcome you to Australia and are sure you will have a great time here!
Parsi Khabar will be present at the Congress to bring you live and timely updates of the entire four days.
You can follow us on our Facebook Page & Group for Live feeds from time to time. Also follow our Instagram and Twitter feeds for some personal tidbits.
If you are attending the Congress, do come and say hi to Arzan Sam Wadia, Parsi Khabar founder.
Even as the Bombay High Court steps in to rein in a rampant MMRCL over the tunnelling process under sacred fire temples at Princess Street, petitioner Berjis Desai says that the community is often silent when it is its duty to speak up
The Metro corridor will pass right under Wadiaji Atash Behram, according to the MMRC website. File Pic
The Metro authorities are not the only enemy that the Parsis are fighting; the community’s apathy seems to be just as much a foe. Hours after dashing a letter off to the MMRC on Monday, demanding to see a detailed blueprint of the Metro III tunnel route, which the Parsis fear will desecrate two of their most prominent places of workshop, solicitor Berjis Desai told mid-day, “To be very blunt about it, we have been very indifferent; a huge silent majority of Parsis is very indifferent, even when it is its duty to speak.”
Since it came to light last year that the underground Metro III’s will pass under two of the city’s most sacred fire temples – the Wadiaji and Anjuman Atash Behrams – the Parsi community has been in great distress. The fear is that the drilling will end up desecrating the holy fire that has been burning for over a century at the sanctum sanctorum. The Wadiaji Atash Behram was consecrated in 1830 and the Anjuman Atash Behram in 1897, and both are also recognised as heritage structures.
The Metro III tunnel is said to pass under Wadiaji fire temple, and brush past Anjuman Atash Behram, two of the city’s prominent fire temples. File Pics
‘No one cares’
But not enough has been done by Parsis to address this threat, said Berjis Desai. “When it is their duty to guard their community institutions, they prefer to remain silent and don’t care one bit.
“When it comes to community housing or availing of community charities, then everybody will come out. Or, they will come out once in a while to vote for BPP Trustees. But on these kind of issues, which are of genuine public interest, when there is a sacred fire temple and heritage structure involved, no one says anything.”
Desai is among a group of petitioners who moved the Bombay High Court on May 23, to seek assurance that the Metro tunnel should not go anywhere under the two Atash Behrams. The group also includes scholar priest Dr Rooyintan Peshotan Peer, structural engineer Jamshed Sukhadwalla, and two trustees of the Shah Varzaavand Trust, who are being represented by senior counsel Shyam Mehta and advocate Zerick Dastur. They questioned why the Mumbai Metro Rail Authorities (MMRC) had only consulted two out of five vada dasturjis or high priests, namely Khurshed Dastoor and Phiroze Kotwal. The remaining high priests are Kaikushroo Meherji Rana, Cyrus Dastoor, Jamasp Asa.
Route map as per MMRC website; info and position of anteroom approx. Graphic/Ravi Jadhav
Upon hearing their plea, a division bench of the HC, comprising Justices Shahrukh J Kathawalla and Ajay Gadkari, recorded a statement from the MMRC stating that they would not drill under the agiaries till the next hearing scheduled for mid-June. The bench also directed the Metro authority to form a panel of its directors and arrange a hearing with the petitioners, the five vada dasturjis, and all the trustees of the two agiaries.
“The authorities have been directed by the court to convene this meeting; they will need to give us a 72-hour notice before the meeting,” said Desai. “In order for us to participate effectively in this meeting and have a meaningful discussion, we will need to receive all pictures and documents well in advance. We don’t know if they are going to give us exhaustive documentation, but we are hopeful,” he added.
On Monday afternoon, the petitioners shot off a letter to the Metro authorities asking to see all relevant documents and blueprints regarding the alignment of the underground tunnel. “The letter has gone to them asking for relevant documents asked for specifically by our architect. We have requested them to furnish copies of all drawings, maps, blueprints,” said Desai.
‘Misleading maps’
An atash behram usually has a large congregation hall at its entrance, followed by an anteroom encasing the kebla or innermost sanctum housing the holy fire. The MMRC had, in a November 10, 2017 letter, claimed that the tunnel will not pass under the sanctum. However, according to Sukhadwalla, who has been leading the fight against the underground Metro since the very beginning, the alignment depicted on the MMRC website is misleading.
The route map on the MMRC webpage doesn’t denote the position of the central tunnel, which community members fear could be drilled too close to the anteroom or sanctum. “The Metro line shown on the MMRC website is misleading,” said Sukhadwalla, speaking to mid-day. “This is not the alignment of the tunnel – it is the sanctioned RL line, as mentioned in the diagram’s legend. Metro authorities should have shown the alignment of the central tunnel, and not of the RL line.”
What could go wrong
* The Metro tunnel drilling can result in damage to the heritage structures of the atash behrams.
* The wells in the fire temples at Princess Street, and the 293-year-old Bhikha Behram well at Fort, might run dry due to the digging. All sacred ceremonies of the fire temple are done using their well water.
* According to a petition dated October 2017, sent to PM Modi and signed by over 11,000 people, the temples being “living, vibrant … intermediaries between God and mankind” as they are, if these “holy fires are defiled, the backlash from nature will not spare those responsible”. Religious scholars argue that when the fire is enthroned, it is connected to the earth below with prayers. The atmosphere around the fire is purified by creating magnetic circuits. Drilling and construction activity under the structure will lead to spiritual pollution.
Inauguration of this dadgah, the third category of holy fire, which is lower than agiaries and atash behrams, comes after a similar place of worship was started in Kopar Khairane, Navi Mumbai, two weeks back.
Speaking about the dadgah, Jimmy Mistry, founder chairman, Parsi Resource Group, said that the shrine is being built in close proximity of Rustom Framna Agiary in Dadar, so that it could complement the work carried out in the agiary.
“The priest looking after the agiary will look after this dadgah as well. The main aim of having this dadgah is so that the younger generation of the community can be brought into the religious fold and taught about our religion,” said Mistry.
The dadgah which will be situated in the lobby of Della Tower, will have an exhibition centre in the adjoining section, displaying the history of Zoroastrianism.
How 10 days at the ASHA Centre Transformed, Inspired and Enriched the First-Ever World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum
In the heart of pastoral Gloucestershire, England, the transformational ASHA Centre played host and facilitator for the first World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum. Uniting 20 Zoroastrian youth leaders from a myriad of views, backgrounds and geographies – the Forum aimed to form a vision, mission and action plan for tackling some of the most contentious issues facing the vibrant but diminishing worldwide Zoroastrian community.
Article by Jim Engineer
March 16 – 25, 2018 (Gloucestershire, England) —The first gathering of our group felt wonderful outside London’s Victoria Coach Station, where we met to embark on our three-hour journey to the ASHA Centre. It was at the ASHA Centre where we would spend the next 10 days deep into introspection, bonding, consensus building with no shortage of laughs and hugs to make each moment an instant memory.
This timely and purposeful Zoroastrian ‘coming together’ of next generation leaders would not have been possible without the devotion, dedication and leadership of Sanaya Master. Sanaya, who helped organize the Sixth World Zoroastrian Youth Congress alongside fellow New Zealander Tinaz Karbhari (also a WZYLF participant), took on an internship at the ASHA Centre in 2017. Important related aside: Sanaya’s mother, Farida Master, is the noted author of an acclaimed biography on ASHA Centre founder Zerbanoo Gifford, An Uncensored Life. It ultimately would be Sanaya’s energy and leadership that turned ideas on paper into transformative life experiences for all of us.
Located in the heart of lush, rolling, pastoral English countryside dotted by sheep and heavy dairy cows, the ASHA Centre is a restored Georgian home located next to the historic Gunn’s Mill, currently under preservation as a United Kingdom historical site.
On one side of the property is an expansive farm catering to the grazing needs of its many wooly sheep, and on the other side, nothing but spectacular trees surround the ASHA Centre, which sits neatly in an enclave within the heart of the magical Forest of Dean. This ancient woodland is believed to be the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s mysterious woods of Middle Earth.
The Centre is comprised of two large dining halls, a library, cottages to house large visiting groups, and a kitchen fueled by the passion and dedication of staff and volunteers from around the world. Their energy, generosity, wholesomeness and joy exuded through the colorful medley of meals they cooked.
What defines the Centre are endless rows of stunning rose bushes, tulips, a rich green grass expanse and stunning foliage. The Centre nurtures large biodynamic vegetable patches and greenhouses. Adjacent to the forest are pathways that lead to a labyrinth and an Eco Lodge for meditation and relaxation. But most intoxicating is the stream that runs through the property from the top of the Forest of Dean and the famous landmark, St. Anthony’s Well (pictured below).
Leadership, Courage Defined the Past
The harmonious sound of the stream, the purity of the water, and the relentless zeal of the stream to never stop running for thousands of years is a reflection of the spirit and courage of Zerbanoo Gifford. Zerbanoo has been a progressive, forward-thinking champion of social justice, women’s rights, racial equality, interfaith tolerance and environmental sustainability for decades. Faced with death threats when she ran for elected office in early 1980s London. She went on to serve as a Councillor for Harrow and chaired the Race Relations Forum set up by the Home Secretary leading to a storied career championing human rights causes. Her example of courage and depth of historical context provided rare color to our efforts, as we sat in awe of Zerbanoo’s trailblazing example. Our goal was to celebrate our interconnectedness as a group, to trust each other, to respect each other’s views, and to form a vision for future Zoroastrian generations living in harmony and thriving as a united community.
Zerbanoo at the outset spotlighted the contributions of legendary Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrians who went beyond the Zoroastrian community to lead the world. She described her admiration for her heroes: from the iconic Dadabhai Noaroji, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and Jamsetjee Tata, to well-known modern-day Zoroastrians including Ratan Tata, Zubin Mehta, Freddie Mercury, and authors Bapsi Sidhwa and Rohinton Mistry. Zerbanoo’s example is tied to going beyond one’s traditional comfort zone, to affect change in the world, and to pursue our dreams and endeavors without fear or favor.
Every big endeavor, from grassroots movements to a sea change in thinking, is ultimately challenged by naysayers and doubters; by a small few who aim to polarize and marginalize a more silent majority, instead of uniting and coming together in spite of our differences.
It is through this thread of common decency and mutual respect for one another that we were able to maintain a focus on our shared obligations: to form the fabric for an interconnected working group inspired to turn ideas into action and fostering dialogue focused on our commonality and shared beliefs.
Circular Living and a Forming a Vision for a Sustainable Future
Each day would bring an introduction to our surroundings at the ASHA Centre. The Centre itself is a model for sustainable living and consistent with the Centre’s circular design at almost every turn. The cottages where we stayed were laid out around the Centre, adjacent to the Energy Room. Two large greenhouses and the garden shedsit atop two large and hearty vegetable gardens surrounded pathways that lead to a bonfire pit, Eco-Lodge for meditation, a Labyrinth for meditation and soul searching, and eventually the stream.
It would be the stream’s beauty that simply intoxicated the landscape. The water’s flow, form, relentlessness and continuity made it particularly poignant when we celebrated water on Ava Roj and Ava Maino, gathering by the stream and led in prayer by our young Mobeds: Erv. Karl Desai (Australia), Erv. Jehaan Kotwal (India), Erv. Jimmy Madon (UK/India), and Erv. Sheherezad Pavri (India). The next generation of Zoroastrian priests, the role they play in our community, the enormous responsibility they have, and the obvious pressure of the community’s many complexities, was simply profound and we as a group stood in awe of them.
The daily introspection we gained, individually and as a group, was stimulated by our surroundings. We never watched TV, were rarely in front of our computers or on the phone; we were not stressed or distracted and always open to new ideas, techniques, and methods for achieving consensus and unity as we began to form our vision for the future.
The ASHA Centre achieves and imparts purpose through a myriad of techniques: the written and spoken word, meditation, visualisation and the arts, all aimed at building trust between one another and most importantly building consensus on the issues challenging the global Zoroastrian community.
Discussions during the day were hosted and facilitated superbly by the Centre’s co-directors Mark Gifford (left) and Adrian Locher. Mark is one of two sons born to Zerbanoo and her husband Richard. The couple’s youngest son, Alexander, serves as the Artistic Director at the Gloucester Theatre Company. Adrian, a leading visual artist and Executive Producer at the Gloucester Theatre Company, would be invaluable alongside Mark for boundless leadership, generosity, thoughtfulness, creativity, sensitivity, and a depth of understanding that enabled us as a group to not just work together, but to cultivate, map and prioritize the maze of issues challenging our future.
It all started with a vision. As we began to envision our ideal Zoroastrian future, perhaps 50 to 100 years from now, we used meditation to produce visuals that ultimately would form a valuable experience. Specifically, we were given poster sized sheets, scissors, tape, glue and boxes full of old magazines and began collaging pictures, words and other visuals to best represent our vision for an ideal Zoroastrian future. Omnipresent through the collages were themes of sustainability, care for the environment, strengthened relationships and an abundance of food, love and nature.
The lens through which we viewed the Forum was worldwide in scope, yet our experiences were tied to our home continents and regional involvements. Each one of us brought a unique perspective, view and level of leadership that qualified our involvement and enabled us to speak ardently on behalf of our experiences, and eventually on behalf of one another as a group.
Tackling the Issues
With our vision in place we set our sights on identifying and mapping the most critical issues to us individually, and then collectively within small groups as a means to achieve consensus. We consolidated redundancies and issues that overlapped within an even larger group setting. This process allowed us to create a visualization of issues of highest concern to us.
Before we tackled the issues, however, we participated in the LSD exercise: Listening, Summarizing and Deepening our levels of conversation. Living in a world of sound bites, elevator pitches and quick conversations required us to slow down and focus on our interpersonal communication skills.
Mark and Adrian also helped us channel and sort through three primary forms of energy humans typically exude: Sloth, Tiger and the ideal, Swan. Each of us can embody these energies at any given time, and the exercises and discussions we pursued on these energies helped us communicate and comport ourselves in a manner that supported the consensus building around the issues mapping initiative (left).
Our issues were vast, interconnected, interdependent, and complex. The most daunting category: Dwindling Numbers. We explored ways to tackle such pressing issues with common sense ideas, structural policy recommendations, and ideas and action items to help move the needle.
Central to our thinking was coming together on key themes: mutual respect for geographical boundaries, ideologies and practices – in essence, Zoroastrians all over the world worship and practice the religion and espouse both orthodox and reformist views through a prism of ethnicity, geography and adaptation into new societies.
Preserving the religion’s philosophical teachings; Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrian cultural traditions and practices; disenfranchisement and a lack of participation; preserving and sustaining our historic fire temples and other places of worship; building new Dare Mehrs, consecrated fires and places of worship from North America to New Zealand; environmental preservation and sustainability; the governance of world, regional and local Zoroastrian organizations; gender equality in community leadership and within the priesthood; and most critical to our time, the inclusion of non-Zoroastrian spouses and their children.
Perhaps no other issue or theme was more touching, omnipresent, and critical to discussions on dwindling numbers from increasing disenfranchisement. The topic of inclusion brought about a sense of empathy for Zoroastrians and their non-Zoroastrian spouses and children, who are questioned on their identity while attempting to simply worship peacefully.
Their lives in some geographies are impacted and shaped by stringent beliefs and ideologies; and as populations of Zoroastrians continue to migrate and build new infrastructure in North America, Europe, South-Central Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the concept of respecting geographic boundaries became critical to finding common ground.
Ultimately no one country or geography has a monopoly on views, or the ability to dictate who can be a Zoroastrian and who cannot.
The beliefs, customs and traditions in India will be different from those in the Western diaspora, and change if it is meant to take place, must take place organically and from within rather than through external forces and bodies.
From a next generation perspective, we can only move forward by respecting one another and accepting that some views and interpretations will never be resolved. Through mutual respect we are able to find commonality, build bridges, and work to achieve a more perfect harmony and unity as a global religious community.
Mission, Vision, Lift Off!
Our final few days were focused on forming our go-forward Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles & Resolutions or key learnings/takeaways from this truly transformative event in our lives. Beyond finding our own interconnectedness as a group, we developed a kinship that we expect will reverberate among Zoroastrians worldwide. Our experiences at the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum will shape our involvements and decision making over many decades to come. In just 10 days, a number of us were able to rekindle our internal flame to burn brighter than ever, and to embrace with optimism a future that is worthy of our beautiful and ancient religion.
In keeping with all our exercises, we achieved group consensus in drafting and finalizing our formal Mission and Vision statements, and in the way we came together to express our vision for the future.
Our WZYLF Vision:
A harmonious Zarathushti community flourishing through righteousness.
Our WZYLF Mission:
To connect today’s Zoroastrian youth leaders, fostering dialogue, and empowering diverse voices into action.
Sanaya Master, New Zealand
Erv. Karl Desai, Australia
On our final formal day of work and bonding, we had the unique opportunity to present our Guiding Principles & Resolutions, comprised of our vision, mission and our model for sustainability, harmony and growth as a more united community.
We aimed to resolve the host of issues with future-focused common sense ideas, and in some instances, structural policy recommendations to help organizations locally and globally to usher in a new generation of Zarathushti leadership and work toward a more inclusive future driven by responsible governance.
To start, we adhered to a circular model featuring the cog of our wheel as our state of Frashokereti, the Zoroastrian doctrine of a final renovation of the universe, when evil will be destroyed, and everything else will be in perfect unity with Ahura Mazda.
Surrounded by the cog of our wheel are the Vision and Mission statements, and seven interconnected wheels we attributed to the seven Amesha Spentas:
Asha Vahishta (Truth & Justice) to live the values of Zoroastrianism;
Vohu Manah (Good Mind) to improve tolerance and open-mindedness;
Haurvatat (Wholeness) to encourage greater engagement and participation;
Ameretat (Immortality) to have a healthy and thriving Zoroastrian population;
Spenta Armaiti: (Devotion) to achieve greater gender equality in our institutions;
Kshathra Vairya (Righteous Power) to improve the way we collaborate globally;
Spenta Mainyu (Spirituality) to cultivate knowledgeable Zoroastrians connected with their religion.
(Design by Tinaz Karbhari)
Envisioning the Path Forward
By March 25th, day 10, our Forum concluded and we returned to our pockets of the world galvanized and emboldened. We are all enriched for getting to know one another and build the interpersonal relationships we did; and to be facilitated and mentored by leaders like Zerbanoo, Mark, and Adrian; by World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce Chairman Edul Davar; by the passion, hard work and dedication of Asha Centre volunteers; the financial support of Zoroastrian organizations and individuals around the world. And we leave with a faith and trust in each other to advance our resolutions and operate as a cohesive, well-informed, connected group.
Among so many incredible takeaways, one in particular stood out. I had never meditated or thought about my perfect vision for the future, until I came to the Asha Centre. If you get the chance, take about 6-8 minutes to close your eyes and focus on your inner light – to envision your life in 25-50 years and the perfect vision for your life, religion and community.
Who are the people around you? What’s the environment like? Will your family look the same or different? Are we more or less dependent on technology? Are we more or less dependent on sustainability? How has our infrastructure developed? How are our fire temples preserved? Are our customs, traditions and religious education being imparted to future generations?
After our meditation we used visual arts to depict our vision for a Zoroastrian future. It was a perfect example of the Asha Centre’s focus on visual arts as valuable form of expression.
Through our ongoing leadership and involvements, professional and social networks, use of technology and above all, well-informed judgment, our inner flames have been kindled and we look forward to getting to work. We realize that we can only advance, by doing so together; by listening to one another, deepening our conversations, strengthening our interpersonal relationships, respecting our geographic boundaries, striving for inclusion, and living the good Zarathushti life.
Each of us today remains ambassadors and agents of change working hard on behalf of our causes, organizations, and the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum. We have since started development of our web site at www.wzylf.com, chronicled the Forum by video, formed active working groups, and use social collaboration tools and messaging services to communicate and execute on ongoing initiatives.
As a group we are thrilled to impart, infuse, engage and challenge the next generation of Zoroastrian leaders and community builders to go beyond their comfort zones and challenge themselves to envision a future that is thriving, connected, and unified.
Heading to the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress in Perth, Australia, June 1 – 4? Look for us, as we look forward to meeting you and to updating the global Zoroastrian community on our efforts.
In Memoriam
During the writing of this article, just weeks following the Forum, Zerbanoo’s mother, Kitty Irani (nee Mazda), sadly passed away at the age of 93. Zerbanoo chronicled her mother’s storied life in this beautiful obituary: https://parsikhabar.net/individuals/kitty-irani-in-memoriam/17483/.
This article is dedicated to the memory, spirit and life contributions of Kitty Irani, and the legacy she continues through Zerbanoo, Kitty’s six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
Participants of the First World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum included:
Diana Bharucha, Seattle USA
Karl Desai, Sydney Australia
Jim Engineer, Chicago USA
Tanya Hoshi, Toronto Canada
Kayras Irani, Vancouver Canada
Narges Kakalia, New Jersey USA
Tinaz Karbhari, Auckland New Zealand
Jehaan Kotwal, Mumbai, India
Shazneen Limjerwala, Mumbai, India
Jimmy Madon, Lemington Spa, UK
Sanaya Master, Auckland, New Zealand
Layla Mazdayasni, San Diego, USA
Shazneen Munshi, London, UK
Shireen Patel, Lahore, Pakistan
Sheherazad Pavri, Mumbai, India
Cyrus Rivetna, Chicago, USA
Arashasp Shroff, Toronto, Canada
Benafsha Shroff, Denver, USA
Cainaz Vakharia, Washington D.C., USA
Arzan Sam Wadia, New York, USA
Photo credits: Tinaz Karbhari, Jim Engineer, ASHA Centre
In a few hours the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress will begin in Perth. This will be a Congress of a few firsts, all of which make it worth going to Perth.
For the first time it is being hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. And for the first time it is in the Oceania region. When Firoz Pestonji bid for the Congress to be hosted in his hometown, it took a lot of guts and some risk in taking the leap.
To me this is a very Zarathushti trait. Over the centuries we have been taught that our forefathers took risks, and went into uncharted territory and reaped benefits. Ask Jamshedji Jeejebhoy ! Why did he go to Hong Kong and Macau ? What about the pioneering Zarathushtis who left the shores of Western India and settled in all parts of the world….South Africa, North America, United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand; in the days before aircrafts were invented ! Today we all lament that this spirit of adventure is what is lacking in our youth. And then; when someone comes and proves that they can take on the impossible and welcome the Zarathushti world to Perth….what do we do ??? We question whether it is worth it ??
A little historical perspective is needed here. The most successful World Congress in terms of number of attendees was the 7th World Zoroastrian Congress in Houston in December 2000. The organizers had to close out registration at 2000 attendees; because the venue could not accommodate more. This was in Houston….not even in one of the major American cities like New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco. On the other hand, when the Congress returned to Mumbai in 2013, only 1200 people attended. Keeping in mind that just the city of Mumbai is home to more than forty thousand Zarathushtis; this was pretty disappointing.
Perth may be a geographical outpost; but in today’s jetsetting world, you can be here in about 11 hours of flying. Sometimes one cant get from Mumbai to Ahmedabad by road in the same time.
One may argue that having only 300 attendees at a World Congress is too less. In history numbers dont matter. We Zarathushtis are a living example of it. If only all our forefathers had said….we are so few…why bother, would we as a community have made the kind of impact we did and still continue to do to so today in the Indian subcontinent.
At the Congress one will get an opportunity to meet and hear the fearless amazing Awat Darya; the first Zoroastrian woman representative in the Kurdish Parliament. She has taken on strong opposing forces and stood her ground to defend her Zoroastrian faith, at great danger to her life. It is worth going to Perth to meet her.
At the Congress one will get a chance to meet and interact with our own homegrown Dahanu boy Yaz Mubarakai….who now sits in the Western Australia State Legislature as an elected representative of the people of his new adopted home. It is worth going to Perth to meet and hear him.
At the Congress, one will witness the birth of the Australian Federation of Zoroastrian Associations. AFZA will be the second diasporic body of this nature and brings about a game changer for Zoroastrian Associations in Australia. It is worth going to Perth to witness this.
However the greatest benefit of going to Congresses is the meeting of other fellow Zarathushtis from all over the world. Something that is pretty much impossible to do if you dont go to one. It is worth going to Perth to meet other Zarathushtis.
For a small community like Perth; its a major milestone to pull off. Yes there are other larger cities in Australia. Could they not have hosted it ? Well we will never know….since they didnt step up to the plate. Thank you that Perth did and we can be here in Australia.
So to all those who pose the question….is it worth going to Perth…..if you had bothered to come…you would have had your answer. For the 300 odd souls who are here; let the fun times begin.
Parsi Khabar will bring you daily updates on the Congress, both on the website and in the social media realm. Stay tuned….and see why it truly is worth it going to Perth
June 1, 2018 dawned as a beautiful sunny late fall day in Perth Australia. Over 330 Zoroastrians from all over the world gathered for the very first World Congress in the Southern hemisphere. The 11th World Zoroastrian Congress with its theme “Together Towards Tomorrow” welcomed delegates from all over the world, including USA, Canada, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Iran and Kurdistan.
The morning saw the Global Working Group have their annual day long series of deliberations and discussions on areas of collaborations amongst the various global Zoroastrian diaspora associations.
The formal opening of the 11th WZC started with a Jashan ceremony conducted by the respected Ervad Aspandiar Dadachanji who is in Perth with Dhun Aunty specially for the Congress. He was joined by the local Perth mobeds and others from around the world.
After the jashan he gave a talk explaining the Jashan ceremony and the meaning of the various actions.
The local native indigenous people of the Wadumbah nation welcomed the delegates with a fantastic dance performance.
The Congress had a flag march past of all the countries that were present, with the playing of their national anthems. This was a new first at the Congress.
The Chair of the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress Firoz Pestonji welcomed the delegates to this momentous occassion. He thanked those who had supported him and his team against all odds in pulling off a fantastic event. He hoped that the actions of “Team Australia” in organizing this event will become an inspiration for other smaller Zoroastrian communities to step up and do similar events. He hoped that those who doubted his team’s ability to host this event will join in making the next few days memorable and successful.
Firoz also thanked his wife Mahrukh and daughter Farzana who have been at the frontlines of organizing this Congress with dozens of others, not only from Perth, but also from the Zoroastrian communities in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Consul General of India, Amit Mishra welcomed the Zoroastrian delegates. On behalf of the Government of India he highlighted the role that Parsis had played in India and continue to play to this day, not only in India but all over the world.
Global community leaders from all over the world thanked Firoz and Team Australia for hosting the 11 WZC in Perth.
The Chief Guest of the evening was Premier of Western Australia Mark McGovern. He welcomed all the delegates to Western Australia and hoped that the participants would have a great time in WA.
On the occasion of the opening of the 11 WZC, Meher Bhesnaia of UAE launched her new coffee table book “Zarathushtra and the origins of Zoroastrianism” explaining the historical, social, cultural and entrepreneurial legacy. The book was specificaully created for the 11th WZC. The book is available for sale. Details at this link
Meher Bhesania also launched the short film “Life and Times of Zarathushtra”. This beautiful 18 minute film lucidly explains the story of the life of our Asho Zarathushtra.
This was followed by local entertainment and dinner.
Some thoughts on the day….
Firoz and his team pulled it off ! Keeping in mind the size of the community here, the geographical location of Perth etc, they hit the ball out of the park, in hosting this Congress.
A diverse group of people are present at the Congress. Some die-hard congress junkies but a large majority of first timers. Sadly not as big a participation as one would have expected from other Australian cities.
A quick look at the program shows a big thrust on business, entrepreneurship and commerce, which is a welcome change.
There is a good number of youth, which bodes well. The venue is beautiful and the host volunteers are amazingly helpful.
Another beautiful sunny day welcomed the participants as they streamed in to the first full day of presentations kicked off with a beautiful rendition of Monajats by Mani Rao of Chicago USA. Meherji Madon from Washington DC gave a short presentation on the remastered movie “On Wings of Fire” that he had co-produced originally.
The Zoroastrian Return to Roots program made a presentation about the program and announced the launch of the next trip slated to begin on December 19th, in India. Kayras Irani RTR Alumni and Arzan Sam Wadia, the program directors spoke about the RTR program which is run under the aegis of PARZOR and takes youth between the age of 22 and 35 years of age for a 14 day trip to experience Zoroastrian and Parsi life in India.
Yaz Mubarakai was the keynote speaker this morning. Yaz reminisced about growing up in Dahanu and his amazing journey from there to being the first ever Zoroastrian in any state Parliament in Australia. Yaz was elected to Western Australia’s Parliament last year.
Yaz was followed by Dr. Esfandiar Ekhtiyari, the Zoroastrian Representative in the Iranian Majlis who brought greetings from the President of Iran to the gathering at the 11th WZC.
Roshan RIvetna unleashed an amazing amount of data and analysis on the demographics of the Zoroastrian over the ages. Her extensive data collection and presentation showed some interesting, and worrying trends.
After the morning break, members of the various Zoroastrian local organizations in Australia made a presentation about their associations and outlined the efforts to form an Australian….and maybe a Pan-Pacific Federation as an umbrella organization…akin to FEZANA in North America.
Neville Shroff chaired a session which discussed Zoroastrian Religion in the 21st Century. Fariborz Rahnamoon, Dr. Kourush Niknam and Manek Bhujwala shared their perspectives on the topic.
Tina Namiranian an entrepreneur from Iran spoke about her enterprise and the bed and breakfast she runs in Iran.
Behroz Daruwalla moderated a high profile panel on the topic of Women in the 21st Century: Power Unleashed. The panelists ranged from stalwarts like Dolly Dastoor of Canada, Katayun Kapadia of USA and younger women making their mark in today’s world like Farzana Khambatta of Perth, Tanya Balsara of Mumbai and Dr. Delara Javat of Perth. The panelists spoke about the challenges they faced in balancing careers and families. Dolly and Katayun spoke about mentoring youth and the responsibility that came with it. Farzana spoke about what it took to hold her own in in a “man’s” profession and her foray into engineering and oil and gas exploration. Tanya spoke about how she found an opportunity in providing computer literacy to the visually challenged and Dr. Delara Javat spoke about the challenges she faced and overcame in her budding medical career.
The post lunch session had Awat Darya and the Kurdish delegation speak about Zoroastrians in war torn regions of Middle East, especially Kurdistan. She highlighted the resurgence of Zoroastrian in the ancient homelands; and her efforts as the Zoroastrian Representative in the Kurdish Government to bring to the fore issues and concerns.
Eminent legal luminary Berjis Desai gave a powerful and incisive talk about how Intelligent Conservatism will improve Parsi survival prospects in the current times.
Eminent Zoroastrian scholar Khojeste Mistree spoke about the Prayers of Creation and Youth: Yatha and Ashem. Khojeste showcased some amazing patterns that emerge in two of the most powerful prayers of the Zoroastrian religion; and how the 21 words of the Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer have manifold meanings layered into its reading.
18 year old Rishad Maneksha of New Zealand is the young CEO of ScrapCycle NZ, a company he set up to make new items from heaps of scrap. He showcased his award-winning work.
Arzan Sam Wadia moderated the Youth Panel which discussed challenges and opportunities for Youth in the 21st Century. The panelists… Alicia Shroff from Hong Kong, Viraf Mehta, Jehaan Kotwal and Maher Dhamodiwala of Mumbai, Bahrom Firozgary of Houston and Farhad Malegam of Sydney discussed a wide ranging array of topics that included entrepreneurship, the role of young mobeds, community involvement and service. Viraf Mehta spoke of the challenges and the satisfaction from community services and about the challenges of Mumbai youth. Jehaan in his role as the International youth director of WZCC put forth the opportunities he and his group are creating to foster business and entrepreneurship. Alicia spoke about how marketing, her forte; can be used as a means of communication to the youth in a very fast changing social media scenario. She also spoke of the unique challenges of growing up in a very small Zoroastrian community of 200 people. Bahrom gave a unique perspective as an Iranian youth growing up in USA and being an active young mobed. Farhad Malegam spoke about the message of Ahura Mazda and its relevance to the youth in today’s world. Maher presented a new initiative that he and a group of youth volunteers are working on. Pay It Forward is a new initiative set up by them (more at payitforward.co.in ). The panel ended with each panelist picking one thing they would like to Start doing, one thing they would like to Stop doing and one thing they would like to Continue doing.
Radman Khorshidian from Iran spoke about Future Intelligence and Kobad Bhavnagri spoke about his quest to reinvigorate Zoroastrianism for the youth.
The evening celebrations moved to a beautiful dinner cruise on the Swan River taking us down to Fremantle (“Freo”) and back.The Z Band by the amazing “Gary Firoz” aka aapro Firoz Firozgary had the crowd dancing away on the cruise.
Some observations on Day 02.
The day was really packed ! While there was a wide variety of topics and speakers, it left very little time for questions and answers. Something for future Congress organizers to note.
The Perth organizing team has been punching away, way above its weight, and their excellent efforts completely bore fruit today. Everyone from the Chair Firoz to the youngest youth volunteer have interacted with all the delegates as if we were all relatives residing at their home for a few days of holiday.
Speakers in general need to be cognizant of time frames. Even if one speaker goes off track, it derails the entire schedule. Out of respect to the speakers, the organizers are being polite. I think they need to crack the whip.
It was interesting to meet a lot of new people who were coming to a Congress for the first time. This bodes well. Many of the speakers today itself were first time speakers on a Congress stage and that is refreshing.
The emphasis on business, entrepreneurship, mentoring by various speakers is a first at a World Congress. I have a feeling that this has something to do with the amazing work that WZCC is doing under its new President Edul Daver and the young flag bearers like Xerxes Dastur and Jehaan Kotwal and lots of other youth especially in Mumbai, India.
The forthrightness of many on the youth panel is a welcoming sign for the community at a global stage. The next generation seems to understand that it does not need to fight the fights and carry the baggage of the generation before them.
The four ladies running the front end and MC’ing the program are phenomenal. Zarine Commisariat, Afreed Mistry, Farzana Khambatta and Feritta are doing a fantastic job introducing and thanking the speakers and communicating changes on the fly.
The venue is great and comfortable. The food is fantastic and plentiful. That surely keeps the delegates happy.
This Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) election of 1st July 2018 is a critical one. It will be a test of the Parsi community’s will to set right its apex administrative body – which has been the victim of continuing infighting and egos, which unfortunately nearly led to the resignation of Trustee Mr. Noshir Dadrawala, but none the less exposing many skeletons in the BPP cupboard.
Recently we have witnessed community charity funds splurged on needless litigation whilst on the other hand, beneficiaries have been informed that the BPP has no funds for social welfare schemes, or repairs of dilapidated buildings even on 50:50 basis between the BPP and the beneficiaries.
Xerxes Dastur speaking about Entrepreneurship at the recently concluded 11th World Zoroastrian Congress in Perth, Australia
It’s time for the young, apolitical, independent and professional-minded among us to step up and shoulder the responsibility. The trust’s credibility needs to be restored. As promised after the previous elections of 2015, I have continued with grass root work for the community which has kept me well informed of their needs and desires. For this reason, I am contesting the present Panchayat election..
I am not connected to any family or group, however I am supported by all and sundry including many of the aged, the young, the traditionalists and the non- traditionalists voters, all of whom are willing to support me during this election. Members of groups or families face several compulsions and are never free to act as per their conscience. I believe that in trusts such as the BPP it’s important to take decisions free of political alliances or family ties. This is a philosophy that has found tremendous support across the community and among prominent Parsis.
Today, the election is being fought on a very different platform with various false and misleading articles about me, which I will clarify and clear. I will nevertheless follow my path of fighting a clean and fair election without any personal vilification and continue with my campaign to WAKE UP all PARSIS.
Family:
Having been raised in a small home at [ Forjett Street] I have learnt it takes a lot of hard work, honesty and dedication to be successful. I did my schooling at Greenlawns High School, Mumbai followed by a Bachelor of Commerce at H. R College, Mumbai and then finally passed my Chartered Accountancy exams in the first attempt. .
My wife hails from our holy town Udwada. We have been married for the last 15 years and are blessed with two children Cyrus and Yohann. Earlier this month Cyrus was privileged to have been ordained a NAVAR by Dasturji Aspandiar Dadachanji and Dasturji Khushroo Kanga at the Vatchagandhy Agiary.
Professional Career:
After completing the prestigious [CA exam], I have since been a practicing CA for the last 24 years at V.S. Dastur & Co. Chartered Accountants, which is one of India’s leading CA firms and are the auditors of various parsi and cosmopolitan Trusts and corporate entities all over India. I have been the Managing Partner of V.S. Dastur & Co. for the last 15 years.
As an experienced Chartered Accountant and Financial Consultant, I work with trusts across the country. It has required me to acquire the domain knowledge required to run such a body. I am also part of the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) for which I mentor new businesses every year. I am also Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Mumbai chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC).
Whilst my firm and I are internal auditors of BPP since decades, I hereby declare that if elected, I will give up and surrender the BPP internal audit and request the Trustees to appoint another auditor in our place.
Community Service:
My family has long been at the forefront of community affairs. One of my ancestors wrote the ‘Chaiye Hame Zarthosti’ anthem sung by our community to this date. My grandfather Shapoorji Dastur (Manjra) was the founder and principal of the J J School in Valsad and also penned a thesis called, Cyrus the Great and His Times, which was also published in later years. My father Ervard CA Vispi Dastur is also connected with various Parsi Trusts all over the country. He is an eminent Chartered Accountant who has rendered yeoman services to various Charitable organisations in his 54 year long career and is a world renowned philatelist and historian,having authored two books on Indian Stamps Used Abroad and has been on the International Jury for various Philatelic competitions around the world over the years.
I have worked extensively with the youth through organisations like the Xtremely Young Zoroastrians (XYZ) and WZCC..
I have nurtured and enjoyed working with teams that have delivered remarkable results in terms of community service. These required teamwork and the ability to carry everyone along, a quality that has served me well as Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Mumbai chapter of the WZCC. This is a philosophy I bring also to my responsibilities as Trustee and the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the Ripon Club, a 137 years old only Parsi Club in Mumbai, Treasurer of Rustam Baug Welfare Association, Secretary of The Ness Wadia Memorial Pavilion and INDIA Board Member of World Zarthosti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC)Qualities which are mandatory for a Trustee:
· NON POLITICAL: I do not come with baggage or tags. I am truly independent candidate, who is a professional by career with a passion to dedicate his time and effort towards doing good for this community.
· Independent I am not a part of any consensus group or coterie. It is this independence of thought that I believe is much needed to serve the community rather than one’s own interests.
· Commitment to save and preserve our heritage and traditions: Ensure all protection of our sacred properties and traditions including the Doongerwadi.
· Transparent: I intend on bringing much needed genuine transparency back to the functioning of the esteemed BPP and not the lip service given. I have no hidden agendas. My intention is clear – to serve the community with honesty and dedication.
· Modernity: Along with transparency, I intend on modernising some processes as well as bringing back some processes from the past that have been disbanded.
As a trustee, there are many challenges I will take on. Here, I list a few
Housing
My Manifesto will give clear guidelines on Housing issues but in general will include
· Modify/Amend the present existing Merit Rating Scheme or if necessary even Re-draft a Merit Rating Scheme mandatory for everyone, which has been abandoned by the present board and allotments done only to those who continually week after week privately meet the Trustees . No Exceptions
· Allotments have to be based solely on Merit Rating Scheme and not on relationship with Trustees or on ad-hoc basis, as at present.
· Obtain best legal advice for converting ALL leave and licence agreements into rental agreements at the least cost and complications.
· Solutions to provide adequate housing as several families and young couples are struggling to get a house. This means that young couples are either putting off having children or marriage itself. Obviously, this has implications on our population. The mandate of the Donors will be followed as far as possible.
Administrative Solutions
· Complete transparency in the trust’s functioning.
· Code of ethics, including not using the BPP office for personal work or carrying files outside or home.
· Declaration of conflicts of interest by all Trustees and when tenders are awarded. To this end, I am willing to sign an affidavit.
· Independent election commission. How can the very people standing for elections oversee them?
· Full documentation of board meetings, complete access of the community to them. This will bring to light any preferential treatment given to others out of turn
· Active participation of elected baug/colony associations in the trust’s functioning.
· Guidance and help for smaller Anjumans and Zoroastrian trusts.
· Holding annual meetings with the community as a whole to bridge the gap, which currently exists between the BPP, and the community.
· Enable participative decision making on issues such as maintenance charges, parking charges, sweepers, pumpman, etc. so as to forge a better working environment between the BPP and the community as a whole.
Community and youth engagement
· New portal as an interface with the community; on it would be all documents, tenders and accounts. You could file complaints and track progress made on them.
· Career and academic counselling centres for youth. Many are shunning professional qualifications in return for safe jobs.
· More student scholarships and a push for reservations for our youth, at least in Parsi-funded institutions.
· Deep engagement to make their voice heard in the handling of community affairs. No solution will work without their participation.
Elder care
· Medical insurance for not just seniors, but entire community. This would lower healthcare costs; we would benefit from significantly lower premiums of the bulk deal. For those who still can’t pay, the BPP could step in.
· Tie-ups with leading medical institutions for assured number of beds, lower treatment costs.
· Cashless cover through smart cards to make hospital care relatively smooth.
· Regular medical camps to take care of minor health problems. The camps would also help spread awareness about prevention and healthcare.
· More old-age homes. An infusion of BPP funds would create stable, caring living spaces. These would be professionally managed.
· I call upon Parsi doctors to devote some of their time to the community. A visit once a month to baugs for free consultations would go a long way.
Burying their differences, traditional and liberal Parsis on Friday came together at a packed public meeting and passed a unanimous resolution against the Metro 3 underground tunnels planned to pass underneath two ancient fire temples.
The Wadia and Anjuman Atash Behrams, at the junction of Princess Street in south Mumbai, are two of the only eight such temples in India, which contain the highest grade of consecrated fire. Over a 1,000 Parsis gathered at the Patkar Hall on Friday evening to protest the imminent desecration of the two 19th Century Atash Behrams.
“In the over 1,000 years of the Parsis in India, the community has never asked for reservations or any special rights. This is the first time in our history that the community is demanding that its fundamental rights to protect and practice its religion should not be violated,” said solicitor Berjis Desai, one of the five petitioners, who dragged the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation to court.
“The Prime Minister has called us a “model minority”, but now we ask him to safeguard our rights,” said Desai, adding that the community will have to send a strong message to the powers-that-be and be prepared to fight it out in the courts.
Advocate Zerick Dastur, who spearheaded the legal battle in the Bombay high court, said architect Hafeez Contractor has prepared alternate designs so that the tunnels can be realigned and need not pass underneath the Atash Behrams. “Today morning, we submitted his proposals to the metro rail officials. There are cogent and concrete material to show that it can be done,” said Dastur.
“The Bombay Parsi Punchayat too has come on board and will file an affidavit in the court to support the writ petition. Parsi federations from all over the country have been sending support letters,” said Dastur.
Structural expert Jamshed Sukhadwala, who was the first to raise the red flag about the threat to the fire temples as well as dilapidated buildings in Girgaum, said earlier metro rail officials’ furnished incorrect information. Sukhadwala had filed a slew of RTI applications over the past three years to ferret out information about the alignment of the tunnels. “Today I can say their negativity has reduced,” he said.
Surat high priest Cyrus Dastoor said this crisis concerns every Parsi Zoroastrian. “Each one of us must ensure that no harm comes to the Atash Behrams,’’ he said. “We request the government to protect the sanctity of these important temples,” he said.
Two Parsi High Priests, Firoze Kotwal and Khurshed Dastoor, who last year met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and later announced that no spiritual or structural harm will come to the Atash Behrams, have now changed their opinions. They have now said that the tunnels should not run under any portion of the two fire temples. All the five high priests are now on the same page, the gathering was informed on Friday.
On Friday, Mumbai metro rail board directors Ashwini Bhide, UPS Madan, Ajoy Mehta, AA Bhat and Rahul Asthana met the petitioners as directed by the high court to find a way out. Last month, the court had stayed drilling work under the fire temples till June 14.
The H B Wadia Atash Behram was established in 1830 while the Anjuman Atash Behram dates back to 1897.
The attendees were mostly priests from Mumbai, some of their spouses and even one Er Rohinton Karanjia , who like the last time, made it a point to attend , all the way from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.
The penultimate session involved 3 young priests sharing their recent experiences. Er Sheherazad Pavri, a young entrepreneur and also a practicing priest presented the short video created to showcase the recently concluded World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum in the UK where a group of youngsters from various parts of the globe united in strategizing , planning and implementing programmes to tackle the various problems plaguing the community. Er Firdaus Pavri excellently explained his journey from being bored to the core to embracing the servitude towards the Holy Fire through the correct guidance and mentorship. The Panthaky and Boiwalla of an agiary who is also an avid blogger, foodie and travel enthusiast , Firdaus shared how social media had empowered him to grow and love his occupation while enjoying the love of labour which really wowed the audience. Er Jehan Darbari, an alumnus of the Dadar Athornan Institute added to the above, stating the role of media in giving him the recognition and encouragement to pursue priesthood fulltime.
On one side of the property is an expansive farm catering to the grazing needs of its many wooly sheep, and on the other side, nothing but spectacular trees surround the ASHA Centre, which sits neatly in an enclave within the heart of the magical Forest of Dean. This ancient woodland is believed to be the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s mysterious woods of Middle Earth.
