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.