Fezana Journal
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FEZANA JOURNAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Vol 29 No 2 Summer / Tabestan 2015, 1384 AY, 3753 Z 22 25 30 38 02 Editorial Dolly Dastoor 54 IN THE NEWS 98 UN-NGO 03 Editorial The President 65 RETURNTO ROOTS 102 MILESTONES 04 Editorial Publication Chaiir 79 PERSONAL 105 OBITUARY PROFILESl 05 FEZANA UPDATE - Homi Bhedwar 82 ZARATHUSHTI YOUTH 16 COVER STORY: 2nd Anniversary WITHOUT BORDERS Transmission of Kamran Khodamorad Zoroastrian family 86 INTERFAITH values in the Diaspora INTERALIA 110 BOOKS AND ARTS Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor, editor(@)fezana.org Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, lmalphonse(@)gmail.com Language Editor: Douglas Lange Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh, www.khanizadeh.info Cover Design: Feroza Fitch, ffitch(@)lexicongraphics.com Publications Chair: Behram Pastakia bpastakia(@)aol.com Columnists: Mahrukh Motafram: mahrukhm83(@)gmail.com Copy Editors: Vahishta Canteenwalla, Yasmin Pavri, Nazneen Khumbatta Subscription Managers: Arnavaz Sethna: ahsethna(@)yahoo.com; Kershaw The Aidun Family of North Virginia Khumbatta: photo credit Khershed Cooper Tir – Amordad- Shehrever 1384 AY (Fasli) FALL 2015: Behman –Spendarmad 1384 AY Fravardin YALDA, the Persian Festival .Guest Editor: Massoume Price 1385 AY (Shenshai) WINTER 2015 Spendarmad 1384 AY,Fravardin- Ardibehesht 1385 AY Zoroastrian Financial Institutions: Guest Editor Yazdi Tantra. (Kadimi) Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of FEZANA or members of the editorial board. All submissions to the FEZANA JOURNAL become the property of the publication and may be reproduced in any form. Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada www.fezana.org FEZANA Journal Vol 29, No 2 ISBN 1068-2376 (USPS 021-495) published quarterly by FEZANA 8615 Meadowbrook Dr., Burr Ridge, IL 60527. 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, 8615 Meadowbrook Drive, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. FEZANA Journal - Summer 2015 1 A Word from the Editor EditorialEditorial UNITY IN ACTION Since the early decades of the 20th century Zarathushtis, Iranis and Parsis, started trickling into North America, gathering momentum due to several geopolitical events in the 50s and 60s. This momentum gathered more speed in the 70s with the advent of the Islamic Republic of Iran. After centuries of living apart Iranian Zarathushtis and Parsi Zarathushtis found themselves in much closer proximity in North America. FEZANA was formed and in the early days, the buzz words were Iranian- Parsi unity, and committees were formed to work at it formally. But nothing works as well as personal informal contacts and friendships. The sports events, the youth congresses and now the adult congresses have brought the two branches of the tree to swing in the same direction. We celebrate Tirgan, and Mehergan, Sade and Yalda, the festivals the Parsis had forgotten, we celebrate the different ghambars in their appropriate seasons as they should be, and we sit on each other’s boards. This issue of the FEZANA JOURNAL is another example of the two branches working in harmony and unison. Fariba Pirghaibi, the well known editor of Chehrenama, the publication of California Zoroastrian Centre (CZC) and myself collaborated to bring you a combined edition.We chose a topic which is applicable and of importance to both our communities: Transmission of Zoroastrian values in the diaspora”. We were both worried as to how the logistics would work out. But they did. We exchanged articles, the journal carries two articles in Farsi from Mobed Kourosh Niknam and Mobed Pedram Soroushpour as well as an article from Anahita Behmardian in English. Chehrenama carries the articles in English from the guest editor Dr Hovi Shroff of the FEZANA Journal issue and from Sherally Munshi. In addition we shared the articles by Fariba on the three Co-chairs of the LA congress. In future we plan to bring more combined issues on other appropriate topics. I thank Fariba and the Board of CZC for their openness and thei r willingness to experiment with trust. This is the link for Chehrenama. http://czcjournal.org/CN/174/PDF/CN174.PDF. You will see that the views expressed in both the issues are similar yet different which add flavour to our community. The guest editor of this Summer issue, Dr Hovi Shroff, has done a tremendous job of soliciting the views from a cross section of our North American Zarathushti demographics. And while we forge ahead with unity on this diaspora, our motherland in Mumbai is becoming more fractious with trustees of BPP fighting between themselves leaving the affairs of the community by the wayside, wives weighing in, defending their husbands, and the second generation wanting to take up the mantle of trusteeship to maintain family fiefdom (for what one may ask). We encourage and support our young to Return to Our Roots but we want them to stay strong and reach out and up in the diaspora. Enjoy the summer, it passes so quickly 2 FEZANA Journal –Summer 2015 A Message from FEZANA President Editorial STATE OF THE FEDERATION AT THE FEZANA with FEZANA need to AGM ON MAY 2, 2015 (Complete report available on develop a strategy to www.fezana.org subsidize the participation of youth in North American It has been an interesting, challenging and thought-pro- & World Congresses, voking journey these past three years since you elected Sports Events and Interfaith me as President of FEZANA. Each day brings new Activities. Encourage small challenges, so as we look ahead to 2015-2016 let us member associations and look for creative ideas and affirmative solutions and corresponding members to continue to support the initiatives started. host the FEZANA Annual General Meetings to facilitate WAY FORWARD their meeting the FEZANA family and get involved in FEZANA activities and projects. Foster participation and representation SECOND TEN YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN –The Exec- of the Zoroastrian religion and the Zarathushti utive with the help of the Strategic Plan Working Group, community in the 2015 Parliament of World Religions Committee Chairs, member associations and small in Salt Lake City, Utah in October and during the visit groups will continue working with the complimentary of Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in organizations like NAMC, WZCC, ZWIN, RTR and oth- Philadelphia, September 2015. ers to find resolutions and resources within the commu- nity to bring this plan to fruition. 9. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY - To build a unified NA Zarathushti Community requires a wel-planned 1. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN NA – We and organized communication strategy. Our achieve- continue to identify and prioritize the Infra Structure ments, upcoming events, community service proj- needs of North America and work together to make ects, welfare & critical assistance appeals and other it a reality. information need to be shared using the FEZANA Journal (quarterly), FEZANA Bulletin (monthly), the 2. WELFARE & CRITICAL ASSISTANCE – supports fezanayahoogroups emails and the updated FEZA- the welfare & critical needs of the NA and global NA website. Zarathushti Community in conjunction with WZO- Trust thanks to continued and consistent efforts of FEZANA’s mission is to preserve our religion on this Dinshaw Tamboly. continent by providing a cohesive force. Our core values 3. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS CURRICULUM – are enhanced through a strong emphasis on education, FEZANA supports workshops to train and explain the economic stability, and volunteerism. As we promote curriculum to the Zarathushti community educators at our Zarathushti way of life, we are increasing awareness future NAZCs. of our religion and culture domestically and globally and instilling pride in our future generations. 4. SCHOLARSHIPS – We thank our donors for con- tributing funds and encourage them and other pro- Thanks to your generosity, we are able to achieve this spective donors to contribute to FEZANA to help us and much more. The work of adjudicating scholarships, award academic, religious education, sports, and allocating your donation dollars wisely to those in real performing & creative arts scholarships. need, planning and coordinating religious education 5. NAMC, WZCC, ZWIN AND RETURN TO ROOTS workshops, seminars, sports, publications, etc. is done – Develop a spirit of teamwork and partnership with by committees of volunteers who give their time and these complimentary organizations and programs, to money freely. To continue this work and prepare for our provide value added services. future, we constantly need to raise funds. Please sup- port FEZANA’s goals and activities with your generous 6. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS – Reach out and donations. involve these small communities in FEZANA activi- ties. I request that we all continue to follow the 5-STAR 7. YOUTH INVOLVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT – Guiding Principles for FEZANA: Teamwork, Respect Working with youth committees and organizations Diversity, Innovation, Empowerment & an Optimistic like ZYNA, ZYWB, Zoroastrian Sports Committee, ‘Can Do Attitude” both individually and collectively for a Return to Roots (RTR), and others to foster commu- unified, healthier Zarathushti community in North Ameri- nity involvement and youth participation in interfaith, ca. May Ahuramazda shower his choicest blessings on UN-NGO and