FEZANA JOURNAL FEZANA TABESTAN 1379 AY 3748 ZRE VOL. 24, NO. 2 SUMMER/JUNE 2010 G SUMMER/JUNE 2010 JOURJO N AL Tir – Amordad – Shehrever 1379 AY (Fasli) G Behman – Spendarmad 1379 AY, Fravardin 1380 AY (Shenshai) G Spendarmad 1379 AY, Fravardin – Ardibehesht 1380 AY (Kadimi) Dynamism of the Diaspora Building Zoroastrian Communities Around the World Also Inside: Progression of the Dynamism of the Diaspora in the U.K. Australian Diaspora Vibrant Communities New Zealand: in Hong Kong & Singapore Building a Legacy Photost : Constructition of Darbe Mehr in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Children’s performance in Houston. PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA VOL 24 No 2 Summer/June 2010 / Tabestan 1379 AY 3748 ZRE President Bomi Patel www.fezana.org Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor 2 Editorial [email protected] Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar Assistant to Editor: Dinyar Patel 5 Financial Report Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, 8 Coming Events [email protected] Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh, 4 FEZANA UPDATE ww.khanizadeh.info Cover design: Feroza Fitch, 10 JUNGALWALLA LECTURE [email protected] Publications Chair: Behram Pastakia Columnists: 16 DYNAMISM OF THE DIASPORA Hoshang Shroff: [email protected] Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi : [email protected] Yezdi Godiwala [email protected] Fereshteh Khatibi: [email protected] Behram Panthaki: [email protected] Mahrukh Motafram: [email protected] 113 IN THE NEWS Copy editors: R Mehta, V Canteenwalla Subscription Managers: Kershaw Khumbatta [email protected] 125 NOROOZ 2010 Arnavaz Sethna: [email protected] FALL 2010 130 Interfaith/Interalia Global Health Perspectives WINTER 2010 SHAHNAMEH: THE SOUL OF IRAN 137 Personal Profile GUEST EDITOR TEENAZ JAVAT 144 MILESTONES Photo on cover: 149 FARSI SECTION 151 sBETWEEN THE COVERS s 157 Business WZCC Tir – Amordad- Shehrever 1379 AY (Fasli) Behman –Spendarmad 1379 AYFravardin 1380 AY (Shenshai) Spendarmad 1379 AY, Fravardin –Ardibehesht 1380 AY (Kadimi) Cover design Feroza Fitch Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the of views of FEZANA or members of this publication's editorial board. Lexicongraphics Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 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); $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 – Summer 2010 A word from the Editor Dolly Dastoor Diaspora The first Diaspora was formed in late 8th C when diaspora, we living conditions in Iran became unbearable under the have concentrated on Muslim rule.for the Zarathushtis. They left the shores the diaspora of North of Iran and sailed. In Iran there was no religious or America, and the economic freedom and they were not permitted to dynamism with which practice their way of life. They sailed east and after they have flourished several years of wandering they found a welcome in the last 116 years. haven along the west coast of India, where they They have established themselves. established associations and To uproot oneself and the family, to live in an institutions, and are unknown environment among people who spoke a now beginning to different language, ate different foods, dressed establish second differently, requires strength of character and courage generation dar-e- and a fervent adherence to one's religious beliefs. mehrs. (see articles by Roshan Rivetna and Cyrus Fast forward 12 centuries, and we find the second Rivetna) they have excelled in their chosen diaspora being created in North America, Australia, professions, (see articles by Parastu Dubash and New Zealand, Singapore, Hong kong, England, Europe Edul Davar). We have also featured individuals who the Middle East. This diaspora is made up of have excelled in their own fields of interest, and Zarathushtis from Iran and Zarathushtis from the Indian pursued their dreams.. subcontinent setting sail again seeking new lives in We now have to prepare ourselves for the third places they knew and read about.This time the diaspora created by the resurgence of awareness in migration was not only for religious reasons but for the various republics of the original soviet union. economic, educational and professional reasons, to live as free citizens in an open society. Like-minded In North America we have reached a stage where people got together to create community. They learnt we want to think of what we will leave behind. We and appreciated their religion by reading, stepped on shoulders of luminaries that are past and understanding and absorbing the true meaning, they we are building the work that is before us to provide a practiced the religion as it was meant to be practiced. base for the younger generation to continue. Our second generation is blossoming in the "New World" They shared their religion with pride inviting friends while maintaining roots in the old. to their places of worship, they presented their religion at conferences . They preserved and adapted, they Each of us is proud to play a small role in this great thought and acted. But they also saw what was story. happening in their lands of origin and they were saddened, at the self destructive practices of the community they had left behind. They were saddened by the influence in the community of different lobby groups, by compartmentalized and non-flexible thinking, by the inability of the members of their community to see outside the box, by the court battles as to who can pray where, when and how, by the slow disintegration of the once powerful community that had produced Dadabhai Naoroji and Sir Pherozshah Mehta. They are saddened by having to admit the thought "I am glad I am not there anymore" And though in this issue we invited article from New Zealand. Australia, Hongkong, Singapore, Pakistan, England to showcase their reality of their 2 FEZANA JOURNAL — Summer 2010 A Message from FEZANA President I am truly honored by the trust you have placed in The increased me by re-electing me your President for a second term migration to North (2010-2012). My special thanks to the members of America from Iran ZANC, ZANT, ZAC-Chicago for nominating me to the Pakistan and India is position. changing the nature of our diasporas and making it necessary for I want to thank OZCF for successfully hosting the us to once again survey 2010 FEZANA AGM in Toronto. I thank all the volunteers our demographics This and especially President, Mr. Rumi Jasavala, and his year I would like to start executive committee for organizing this three day event. a census project. Instead of appointing a I thank the out-going treasurer, Ms Katayun committee, I would like Kapadia, for her excellent work and services during her all member associations term of office, 2006-2010, and I welcome Mr. Ratan to take responsibility Mistry, our new treasurer as a member of the FEZANA and coordinate with executive FEZANA Administrator Zenobia Damania as to the demographics in their jurisdiction. I would like to see this project completed by March 2011. I would like to recognize and thank our past president Mr. Framroze Patel for his selfless service in preparing and auditing our financial statements and This year FEZANA will host the Round Table filing our tax returns every year without charging any Conference (RTC) in Houston, December 27-28, just fee. He has helped many associations to obtain their before the start of the XV North American Zoroastrian Non-Profit status and file their returns..Thank you, Congress, December 29-31, 2010. The RTC will be co- Framroze for your ongoing service to our community. chaired by leaders from four regions - India, Iran, ZTFE and FEZANA. I welcome the leaders and representatives of all regions and am looking forward to I am happy to announce that past president Dr. working with them. The RTC is an open event and I Rustom Kevala has agreed to co-chair the FEZANA encourage all of you to attend. Fund Raising Committee along with Dr. Jerry Kheradi. FEZANA has been in the forefront helping The FEZANAAGM is an annual meeting of member community members by way of educational associations, large and small, and is open to all. I scholarships, medical assistance, and other welfare encourage everyone to try to attend future AGMs if they assistance. This has been possible only because of your are held in your area. This would help you understand generous financial support. I thank you all and hope you the workings of FEZANA and the committees. will continue to support FEZANA once again this year, by donating online from the FEZANA web site http://www.fezana.org As we move ahead we need to start planning for the coming years. FEZANA's first five and ten year Strategic Plans developed in 1997 under past president Bomi Patel Dolly Dastoor were completed in 2002 and 2006 FEZANA PRESIDENT respectively. Now it is time for our second five and ten year plans to be defined and for us to start working towards achieving our goals. Ms. Maharuk Motafarm is the chairperson and has taken charge of the strategic planning committee. I request all member association to participate in the survey which she will be sending and help us complete the task in time. FEZANA JOURNAL – Summer 2010 3 FEZANAFEZANA UpdateUpdate Sacred Spaces Behram Pastakia Thich Nhat Hanh in his book, “Touching Peace” implies that if we are mindful of every moment in which we live, we can create heaven on earth for ourselves.