Delhi Parsis

Frohar Films Presents - the only tele-serial on Zoroastrian Religion & Culture - ‘Humata Hukhta Hvarshta’ - Sunday 23rd March 2008, on Zee T.V. Gujarati - Zee Network, at 11.05 A.M.

In this episode History of IRANSHAH - [Part II] by Dastoorji - Khurshed Kekobad Dastoor of Udvada will be televised. In the last episode Dastoorji Saheb presented the ancient history of Sasanian Dynasty, till the Parsees came from Iran to India and how Jadi Rana - the then king of Gujarat gave shelter to the Parsis in his kingdom. 

In this episode he will present how Jadi Rana gave permission to Enthrone the PAK IRANSHAH in Sanjan and how Iranshah Atash Behram came into existence and traces the history of Its journey and the difficulties It faced from Sanjan till Its final establishment in Udvada where It remains till today.

This will be followed by the Song “ATASH NI SETAYASH” - written and composed by well known Music Director Late Shri Kersi Mistry and sung with him by Jaloo Bhesania.

This Tele-Serial of Frohar Films is Designed and Directed by Ervad Cyrus Dastoor.

For more information, you can write to froharfilms@yahoo.com, froharfoundation@hotmail.com

We have been contacted by a group of young students doing a course in Journalism and Mass Communication, who are making a documentary on Parsis as part of their Final Year project.

DelhiParsis.com is extending all the support we can to these enthusiastic youngsters. Which is why we’re also sharing a small note from them here from you. Their note is self explanatory, as to the kind of inputs they need from members of the community.

“We are students of Journalism and Mass communication, and as part of our final year curriculum, we are make a documentary on Parsis.

For that purpose we need some pictures or videos of Parsi rites, rituals and celebrations, as well as any other information or data relevant to the Parsis, which you think would help give the world a better idea about the community.

We would be very thankful to you if you could share some of these things with us. If you can help us out, or if you have any queries about us, please write to us at docuparsi@yahoo.com.

We have to submit our documentry in April 2008.

Thanking You,
Shruti Sharma”

Anyone interested in helping out these students may contact them directly, or send us your inputs and we will do the needful.

The World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) announces an opportunity to enhance your entrepreneurial talent, interact with successful businessmen, and expand your business network, to reach your full business potential.

After the grand success of the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) in June 2006, the World Zarathushti Chamber Of Commerce – India (WZCC– I), is organizing a similar training program – Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).

This program is for you if you are a budding entrepreneur and wish to take your business to new heights by either:

• Expanding or diversifying your business
• Identifying new opportunities
• Establishing linkages with development and support institutions
• Get trained at a recognized institute
   

About the Program :

This is a residential training program scheduled during 28th April to 3rd May 2008, and will be conducted by Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI), at its campus at Ahmedabad. EDI is a recognized Training Institute promoted by leading Financial Institutions.

The training will be through lectures, case studies, business games, group exercises, interactions with successful entrepreneurs and industrial visits. The program will also help the trainees establish network and linkages with banks and financial institutions.

The Fee: Rs. 12,500/- per participant. This includes cost of training, lodging and boarding for six days, course material and industry visits. It excludes travel expenses to and from Ahmedabad.                                 

Contact at WZCC:  Prof.  Faredoon Kapadia, Mrs. Dolly Dhamodiwala, or email us at wzccprograms@gmail.com   

For more information visit the WZCC website

The Delhi Chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (India), was reconstituted today with a new President and members being added to the Managing Committee.

The composition of the new WZCC Delhi Chapter Managing Committee is as follows:

Dadi Mistry - Founder President, Delhi Chapter
Cyrus Engineer - President
Veera Mavalwala - Secretary
Adi Chhoi - Treasurer
Adil Nargolwala - Committee Member
Percy Batliwala - Committee Member
Navroze Dhondy - Committee Member
Meenakshi Bhujwala - Committee Member
Mehernosh Shapoorjee - Committee Member

The aim of the Delhi Chapter, is in line with the larger objectives of the WZCC, and its efforts are to facilitate networking, enhance Trade & Commerce and to renergize the Zarathushti entrepreneurial spirit and thus bring about economic prosperity to all Zarathushtis worldwide.

To know more about the WZCC, visit the global site by clicking here

If you thought finding long lost friends and relatives only happened in old Hindi movies, you’ve got to visit this website I found the other day! It is an interesting and useful website called The Missing Parsi.

It is a wonderful tool/site created by Ader Gandi that helps you find Parsis and Zoroastrians with whom you have lost contact, and want to get in touch with.

Using its own directory, some web tools, and good old fashioned search engines, Ader’s website can help you find that long lost relative, friend, colleague or whatever!

To use this free service, you have to write to Ader with the last known details of the person you are looking for, and he’ll take it from there.

You can also go through the current list of people being ’searched’ and see if you can help locate them.

The site also lists a whole bunch of Parsis found using this service!

Visit The Missing Parsi by clicking here.

One of our members, Arnavaz Malhotra pointed me to this fascinating feature article that appeared in the Washington Post titled “Among the Zoroastrians” with interviews by Jackie Lyden and photographs by Nancy Andrews.

The article vividly brings out the culture and lives of the few Zoroastrians still living in the desert plateau of Yazd, around 350 miles southeast of Tehran.

With both still images, a flash movie and audio commentary, this piece is worth a visit and ‘bookmark’! Check it out by clicking here.

The WZCC Global AGM is being held in Pune, on the 12th & 13th of January 2008. Please block your diaries and make your bookings promptly to participate in this Mega Event, as delegates from all over the world will be attending.

About Pune: This vibrant host city of Pune has the potential for growing business opportunities and enjoys excellent connectivity to Mumbai. The Zoroastrian population of Pune has been increasing, and it is also a favored spot for visiting members from abroad during the delightful winter season. Click here to know more about Pune

The Program for the 2-day AGM is as follows:

Day 1: Saturday, January 12, 2008

11:00 a.m Factory Visit to Tata Motors and Lunch
The group for this interesting Factory Visit is to be limited to 50 persons only and will be on a first-come basis. Participants must book in advance, so please be prompt. Visitors from Mumbai will be taken by a special bus, to reach Tata Motors, Pimpri, by 11 am, or else they can make their own arrangements to be there.
 
6:30 p.m The Gala Night
The Gala Night, commencing at 6.30 pm, at the Ladies’ Club, Pune Cantonment, will be an awards night for outstanding entrepreneurs and professionals.

Nominations had earlier been invited for three different categories and a distinguished panel of judges will make the selection. The awards will be presented at the function, with appropriate citations and responses from the winners.

The annual event also honors an outstanding business personality and confers the Honorary Membership of the WZCC. Past recipients have been the likes of Pallonji Mistry (India), Byram Avari (Pakistan), among others.

This year, the eminent corporate stalwart, Dr. Jamshed Irani, Director, Tata Sons, will be conferred the WZCC’s Honorary Membership. An interesting Keynote address will be followed by some light entertainment.

Cocktails and Dinner will provide further opportunity for interaction. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Day 2: Sunday, January 13, 2008

9:30 a.m Annual General Meeting & Conclave
The venue for this interactive programme is the state-of-the-art auditorium, courtesy the management of the Ruby Hall Hospital complex.

Activities will commence at 9.30 am with the AGM, to be followed by group discussions. Participants will break off into their respective interest Groups like Manufacturing, Services, IT, Financial etc. and make a short presentation of their deliberations. Post-lunch there will be Panel Discussions on interesting topics, with audience participation and the session will end after a Tea Service at 3.30 pm.

Those who had traveled by the special bus to the Tata Motors Factory Visit the previous day will be brought back to Mumbai by the same bus service.

A special concessional charge will be payable by those attending both the Gala Night & the AGM.

Please book your participation now and ensure you don’t miss the opportunity of participating in the WZCC Global AGM. Accommodation at Pune is to be arranged by the participants, and this being the winter holiday season, accommodation needs to be reserved well in advance. For more information and charges, please click here to visit the official WZCC AGM page online.

There is a lot of debate around the dwindling numbers of the Parsi community worldwide. We also hear many voices and opinions about the possible ways to stem this decline.

While the situation seems obvious to many of us, and the official figures paint a grim scenario, there are are still some voices out there, which proclaim ‘we have nothing to fear’ (!?).

Of course, we’d like every one’s view on the matter, including your views on other issues, and their possible solutions.

But to begin, let’s just start with the basics - Are we, or are we not an endangered species today? Are our numbers dwindling by the day, or are we just being paranoid?

Take the poll here and share your point of view. Feel free to add comments as well.

In the next couple of weeks we will add more polls, to get a consensus from Parsis around the world, as well as from non-Parsis, in order to find possible solutions to the problems that face us as a community.

Please participate. We do not gather any information about who you are, or where you are from - we simply want to know your opinion.

Is the Parsi community at risk of becoming extinct soon? Please vote here.

Above: It was a pleasant November evening, when the members of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman gathered at the Delhi Parsi Dharamsala to celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm and the delightful spirit of the the occassion.

In keeping with the concerns for our environment, this Diwali celebration was ‘all green’ with no fireworks causing either air or noise pollution!

Instead we celebrated with colour and creativity in the form of painting, rangoli and dance competitions! Of course, being a Parsi celebration also meant we had great food to fill our stomachs and hearts!

Here is a glimpse of the great time we all had.

 Above and Below: Prizes were awarded to the participants and winners of the various competitions held on the occassion. Mr. Dadi Mistry, President of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (in white shirt) is seen here in these pictures, giving away the prizes.

- Pictures courtesy and (c) Navroze Dhondy -

Above: The Rangoli competition got enthusiasm and colour flowing all around!

- Pictures courtesy and (c) Navroze Dhondy -