FEZANA JOURNAL FEZANA BAHAR 1381 AY 3750 Z VOL. 26, NO. 1 SPRING/MARCH 2012 G SPRING/MARCH 2012 JOURNAL Fravadin – Ardibehesht – Khordad 1381 AY (Fasli) Avan – Adar – Dae 1381 AY (Shenshai) Adar – Dae – Behman 1381 AY (Kadimi) NOROOZ PIROOZ BAD NOROOZ MUBARAK Transformation Changes and Challenges for the Global Zarathushti Community Also Inside: Embracing women in the priesthood Has WAPIZ transformed Parsis in India? A “Lesson from Laos” Transformed by art PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Vol 26 No 1 Spring / March 2012 Bahar 1381 AY 3750 ZRE President Bomi Patel www.fezana.org Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor 2 Editorials- Dolly Dastoor [email protected] Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar Assistant to Editor: Dinyar Patel 3 Message from FEZANA President Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, [email protected] 5 FEZANA Update Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh, www.khanizadeh.info Cover design: Feroza Fitch, [email protected] 13 SCHOLARSHIPS & FEZANA SCHOLARS Publications Chair: Behram Pastakia Columnists: H. Shroff: [email protected] Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi : 34 TRANSFORMATION-Cover Story [email protected] Yezdi Godiwalla: [email protected] Behram Panthaki: [email protected] Behram Pastakia: [email protected] 101 NORTH AMERICAN MOBEDS Mahrukh Motafram: [email protected] COUNCIL Copy editors: V Canteenwalla, Y Pavri Subscription Managers: Arnavaz Sethna: [email protected] Kershaw Khumbatta 105 IN THE NEWS [email protected] Summer 2012 25th ANNIVERSARY 117 INTERFAITH INTERALIA SPECIAL ISSUE FALL 2012 PARSIS IN POLITICS 121 PERSONALPROFILES 1857 to 1954 Guest Editor: Maneck Bhujwala 123 IN MEMORIUM Photo on cover: 124 MILESTONES 127s Between the Covers s Fravadin – Ardibehesht – Khordad 1381 AY (Fasli) Avan - Adar – Dae 1381 AY (Shenshai) Adar- Dae- Behman 1381 AY (Kadimi) Cover design Feroza Fitchof Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the Lexicongraphics views of FEZANA or members of this publication's editorial board. Illustrated by Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Anaheet Gazder FEZANA Journal Vol 26, No 1 ISBN 1068-2376 (USPS 021-495) published quarterly by FEZANA 5750 S. Jackson St Hinsdale Il 60521-5109. Periodical postage rate is paid at Oakbrook, IL 60523 and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription $25 (US) ; $25 (Canada) and $50 (air) for other countries; details on subscription Form. POSTMASTER: send changes to Fezana Journal, 8787 W. Airport Blvd. Houston, TX 77071 1 FEZANA JOURNAL – Spring 2012 A word from the EditorFEZANA SCHOLARS Dolly Dastoor TRANSFORMATION Seasons arrive and the world gets transformed, with Transformation of its own colors, sights and smells, each season taking us thought, ideas and actions closer to end of time. We cannot stop the change of in the social, political, legal season, and we cannot stop the transformation in our and religious arenas have lives and in our societies. The world moves on. The world taken place around the evolves, thoughts evolve, knowledge grows, cultural Zarahushti world This norms and mores evolve. Religious practices evolve, as issue focuses not just on no religion thrives in a vacuum. North America, but incorporates the actions and thoughts of And at the beginning of the 25th anniversary of the organizations and establishment of FEZANA we could not think of a better individuals that are way to reflect on the transformation that is taking place in making a difference in and the Zarathushti world of North America in the past 25 around them. years. Kersi Shroff, an active FEZANA has been the strongest catalytic force in member of the Zarathushti transforming the North American community from a group community from of individuals Zarathushtis into a well-knit organization of Washington, accepted the challenge to guest edit this 23 associations and several small groups of people issue and explore this difficult subject. He solicited articles spread across United States and Canada. The model of from India, Pakistan, Iran, Australia, England to identify the Federation is what other diaspora communities would and reflect on the forces that are bringing about the like to duplicate but have not been able to achieve. While transformation. The articles project transformations at the respecting individual differences of member associations, individual level Modi, Dastur, Ravji (pages 74, 94, 96 ) FEZANA has still managed to forge a North American and at an organizational level, Pakistan, India Australia, identity bringing the Iranian and the Parsi Zarathushtis Iran (pages 48, 57, 65). together after several millennia. This may perhaps lead to a loss of the Parsi identity which is lament of some (see Maneckshaw page 86). The transformed North American Your comments and reflections are welcome . identity has managed to embrace diversity of cultures. I wish you a happy and prosperous 3750 Z FEZANA has transformed the community into a fertile creative community which is the direct or indirect result of a well settled and accepted group in the main frame. Being cohesive, like minded and non-confrontational produces results. Scholarships are provided for academic, sports, performing arts and religious education. (see page 13). Our students, academicians and scientists shine and are appointed to highest positions in academia, ideas are exchanged in bi-annual conferences, both for adults and youth and the world was brought to our doorstep in 2000 for the World Conference which has not been replicated in size and dynamism. Dar-e Mehrs have been built and the community continues to grow. FEZANA has transformed the North American Diaspora into a community without borders 2 FEZANA JOURNAL — Spring 2012 Message from FEZANA President Dear Fellow Zarathusthis; have 60-65% marriages with a non- I earnestly Coming towards the end of my Zarthushti spouse. wish that all four year term as FEZANA President Even though we know that blood present I take this opportunity to thank the is thicker than water FEZANA's members of Member Associations, Presidents, constitution upholds and honors the GWG will Committee Chairs and the North autonomy of all associations. Today continue to American Zarathushti Community- our community worldwide is facing work in unison at-large. mixed marriage acceptance issues. and other regions will It has been a pleasant journey Even in India, where we have a also join the GWG at the forthcoming for me, thanks to the cooperation concentration of the Parsi/Irani meeting in New York on July 31 and that I have received from the community and infrastructure like August 1, 2012. Executive, Chairs and the religious establishments, welfare Presidents. In June 2010 FEZANA and assistance programs; the mixed In 2012 FEZANA celebrates its started preparing a second short and marriages are around 32-38% and 25 years - Silver Jubilee year and we long term Strategic Plan, keeping in increasing every year. could not have been able to achieve this significant goal without the mind the needs of the North Our Member Associations have American Zarathushti community. cooperation and support of the right to observe and practice our Zarathushti community of USA & FEZANA, moving with the times, is religion in their own jurisdiction as now on Facebook, Twitter and on the Canada and well wishers from per the wishes of their own members around the globe. I am grateful to all Web. Our monthly electronic Bulletin which is enshrined in the FEZANA has become ever so popular, just like for your cooperation and support to constitution. FEZANA membership FEZANA. the quarterly FEZANA Journal. includes Member Associations with FEZANA's standing in the world all schools of thought of religious As always, I invite you to send Zarathushti Diaspora has also practice and we respect them all. As me your thoughts on what is become very prominent. The North the President, I have always invited important to you, for the progress American community for the first all views and encouraged everyone and betterment of our North time is being understood as it has to take the opportunity to discuss, American Zarathushti community entered into an open-minded write and promote their views and what role you would like to play dialogue with other regions of the without disrespecting them. Our next to ensure a successful outcome. world, as part of the the Global generation in North America and in Please join FEZANA on Twitter Working Group (GWG). GWG the Diaspora is very open minded and Facebook and our web site regional members have now been and questioning, hence the burden is www.fezana.org. able to understand us better. upon the present generation to give I look forward to meeting you all FEZANA is the only Zarathushti them knowledge and pass on the at the Silver Jubilee celebrations on organization which has the structure beliefs and values of our religion. August 2nd and FEZANA AGM of a multi country federation for the The operations of the Global past 25 years. As always, I invite you to send Working Group are also based on me your thoughts on what is Some individuals and the same principle of respecting important to you, for the progress associations in the western part of autonomy and dignity for all. At the and betterment of our North the world still have a very first meeting in Dubai, which American Zarathushti community misunderstanding that FEZANA was also reinforced in Mumbai, all and what role you would like to play Proselytizes and Promotes members in attendance agreed not to ensure a successful outcome. conversion. This is absolutely to interfere or disrespect the working untrue. FEZANA, in keeping up with of other regions. Every region has its Please join FEZANA on Twitter and it's constitution does not interfere in own challenges and the operating of Facebook and our web site any one's religion nor does it the Global Working Group, based on www.fezana.org.