COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 1

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 1

• The Imperative to Come Together to Work Together
  in Hamazori on Common Issues/Challenges/Projects
  
• Original homeland - Iran
• For a 1000 years, first diaspora in India
• Past century - second diaspora around the world
• 50 years ago, we were oceans away, but today,
  with globalization and the miracle of the
  Internet, we are as close as the click of a
  mouse.
• Today, we are a worldwide Community Without
  Borders.
• We are blessed with a remarkable bonding.
• While each group has local challenges, we share
  many common challenges at a national and global
  level.
• We can accomplish more by working together.
  There is strength in Togetherness (e.g. the
  teaching of the Barsom).
• Hamazori is our fundamental teaching Hamazor,
  Hama Asho Bed -- May we be one in strength, May
  we be righteous.
• Hence the imperative to identify common
  issues/challenges/projects and Come Together to
  Work Together in Hamazori

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY 2

• VISION and MISSION
• Vision supported by all present
• To nurture a caring, compassionate, harmonious,
  altruistic, observant, esteemed and prosperous
  community
• Mission supported by all present
• To come together and work together in Hamazori
  for the Zarathushti and Global communities

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 3

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005Full
  categorized list, generated by Organizational
  and Regional Representatives at Round Table
  during World Congress in London
• I. Connecting Zoroastrians - Networking
  Developing an Infrastructure
• Diaspora in grave isolation (S. Africa)
• Build a global database. Encourage youth to
  communicate with each other globally (S. Africa)
• Need for Z. Leaders to visit Africas isolated
  diaspora (S. Africa)
• Continue on-going discussions for global
  cooperation (NZ-ZANZ)
• Form a network of like-minded individuals
  associations (NZ - TMZANZ)
• Formation of 'all-Australia federation' will help
  bring Australian states closer (Australia)
• Need for a united global front (Australia - NSW)
• Identify world administrative body ( Iran)
• Cannot have Associations or organizations
  (Middle East/Iran)
• Need for an Apex body to provide leadership and
  dialog with the government, and provide help to
  Iran (Iran)
• Exchange of priests (Iran)
• Connect Iranian youth with Z. youth outside
  (Iran)
• Connectedness for all Zs is important (NAMC)
• Importance of world body in the interfaith forum.
  Do not divide (Interfaith)
• Need to connect and provide an infrastructure for
  sharing
• Need a world organization connecting all.

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 4

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• II. Education Preservation
• Uphold Traditional values (NZ - TMZANZ)
• Provide more support for religious education (NZ
  - ZANZ)
• How can we inculcate Zarathushti teachings and
  values in our youth? (NZ - ZANZ)
• Organize Internet video conferencing for
  religious education (NZ - ZANZ)
• Maintain our Parsipanu (WAPIZ)
• Help educate youth internationally
  (Pakistan-audience member)
• Find funds to endow chairs problems of
  success (UK)
• Exchange educational information (UK)
• Inspire youth, educate and continue the Z. line.
  Instill pride to be Z (UK)
• Encourage scholarships, funding for academics,
  religious studies, music, sports, orchestra
  (Canada-USA) )
• Encourage scholarships (Iran)
• Revive the Gujerati language (India mobeds)
• Uphold Parsi-Iranian traditions (WAPIZ)
• Need to perform ceremonies and jashans (UK)
• Quality of schools hospitals deteriorating in
  Iran (Iran)
• Develop an e-group of Religious education
  teachers (Z. Karani Araoz)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 5

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• III. Declining population
• Fertility clinic - (India)
• World Body (to be dealt with on the following
  day)
• Elderly population. Many married out. From 250
  in 1920 down to 117 today. Concern whether next
  generation will survive . (S.Africa)
• Impending extinction of the Parsis is of gravest
  concern and profound sadness, and should be on
  agenda of the Congress(Australia)
• Declining numbers (Pakistan-audience member)
• Assimilation (Canada-USA)
• Concerns of declining population (WZO)
• Declining numbers - encourage early marriage,
  housing, financial help. (India)
• Aging population (India)
• Encourage more children (India)
• Help with matrimonial alliances (India)
• Crash housing program, more opportunities for
  youth (India-Dhalla)
• Efforts to bring down the divorce rate
  (India-Dhalla)
• BPP to support demographic studies. Set up a
  Survival Fund (India-Dhalla)
• Address property enchroachment issues
  (India-Dhalla)
• Appoint a Global Think Tank to take urgent steps
  on many fronts (India-Dhalla) (Contd on
  next page )

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 6

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• III. Declining population (Contd)
• 17. Population - varying numbers, declining
  (Iran)
• 18. Address Inter-marriage with Muslims (Iran)
• 19. Migration out youth going abroad more
  Zoroastrian girls than boys (Iran)
• 20. More deaths than births in India (India)
• 21. Support and encourage children of mixed
  marriages to follow the Z faith. (ZANZ)
• 22. Dont despise children of Parsi-nonParsi
  marriages (Australia)
• 23. Admit off-spring of non-Parsi fathers and
  Parsi mothers into our fold (India-Dhalla)
• 24. Need guidance in future, about Zs from the
  old Soviet republics. (Australia-NSW)
• 25. Outside marriages acceptance of spouses (WZO)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 7

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• IV. Mobed Concerns
• No resident priest. "To have a priest here has
  been a dream for 120 years." (Africa)
• Need contacts with mobed councils in N. America,
  India, but cannot join any organization
  officially (Iran)
• Consider exchange of priests with Iran (Iran)
• Shortage of full-time mobeds (Iran)
• Exchange of priests (Iran)
• Connect with mobeds of different areas NAMC
• Train mobedyars (Iran)
• Encourage Mobedyar program NAMC
• System of para-mobeds. (M. Shroff)
• Cassettes/Videos of ceremonies available (D.
  Tamboly)
• Network mobeds through an e-group (Z. Karani
  Araoz)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 8

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• V. Local Structures, Culture, Welfare
• Help build a Z. center (Singapore)
• Hall for jashans etc. (NZ - TMZANZ)
• Invite Iranian musical groups to perform (Iran)
• Provide support to defunct anjumans (India)
• Z. Culture losing vitality (Iran)
• Get more ZWIN members from Iran (ZWIN)
• Revive culture kushti weaving, books,
  manuscripts, Sanjan, Bahrot. Need funding
  (WZCF)
• Revival / preservation of books, culture,
  research (need funding for various projects)
  (K.R. Cama Institute)
• Support Parsiana magazine (Arnavaz Mama)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 9

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• VI. Social-Political Issues. Concerns about
  Youth
• Challenges of maintaining Z. identity while being
  a part of the multi-cultural New Zealand (ZANZ)
• How to overcome apathy and indifference in Z
  community (ZANZ)
• Concerns related to intense inbreeding
  (Parsi-Parsi marriages only) (Australia)
• Younger generation is leaving Dubai/Middle East
  (Middle East)
• Youth leaving Pakistan due to economic political
  situation (Pakistan - audience member)
• Limitations of minority status in Iran. (Iran)
• Activities of Iranian mobeds are limited to
  spiritual issues governmental constraints
  (Iran)
• Address the issue of declining youth in Iran (due
  to unemployment, migration or marrying outside
  the community). Help Youth unemployment in Iran
  (Iran)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 10

• ISSUES/CHALLENGES/PROJECTS - London 2005 (Contd)
• VII. Business - Supporting Growth
• Encourage businesses to come to Dubai/Middle
  East, which has a growing economy and
  opportunities (Middle East)
• Project our community in same light as in India
  and Iran Must THRIVE prosper (UK)
• Encourage business - enterprises.(India)
• Rekindle the Z. entrepreneurial spirit.(WZCC)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 11

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007
• Culled from the full list, discussed by
  participants at the Roundtable in Mumbai, Jan 8,
  2007.
• Supplies and Services for overseas Zarathushtis.
  E.g. liturgical items, sudrehs, kushtis, sukhad,
  ses, diva, prayer books, books, sending
  flowers/gifts, financial/accounting services.
  (Owner Yazdi Tantra-India is developing
  TheParsiMall.com)
• Global Networking.
• (Owners Ader Gandi -California) and Yazdi
  Tantra - India are developing a worldwide
  directory ZoroastrianDirectory.com,
  TheParsiMatch.com (for matrimonials) and
  TheParsiChronicle.com (for news).
• Need to Coordinate Welfare Programs.
• - Explore welfare needs in India for which
  Overseas Zarathushtis can provide assistance.
  (Owner Porus Dadabhoy-Chicago visited possible
  Welfare Programs in India in 2007).
• (Contd. Next page )

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 12

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• Need to Coordinate Welfare Programs (Contd).
• - Procedure for sending donations from
  overseas for welfare, critical assistance,
  natural calamities, etc. and their tax
  implications. (Owner Firdosh Mehta-Dallas)
• - Coordinate with Parsi Resource Groups
  programs for Youth, Mobeds and Agiaries.
• (Owners Jimmy Mistry of PRG-India will
  coordinate with Houtoxi Contractor-
  FEZANA Welfare, about Adopt-a-Child and
  Adopt-an-Agiary programs.
• - Coordinate efforts of Trusts in India.
  Review archaic systems, be accountable and
  share a coordinated application process for
  Welfare and Scholarship programs.
• (Owner Homai Modi-India will facilitate
  efforts to revive the Liaison Committee.)
• Other Worthwhile Projects Needing Support
• - Among several PARZOR (India) projects that
  need funding are Genetics and Fertility
  Research Center at Masina Hospital publication
  of childrens book by Shernaz Cama language
  studies and other projects.
• (Contact Armaity Desai-India,
  armaity_at_vsnl.net)
• - Need for a study on Aging and Elder Issues.
• (Contact Minoo Shroff- BPP chair, India)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 13

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• Other Worthwhile Projects Needing Support
  (Contd.)
• - Doctors Without Borders network started by
  Dr. Mehroo Patel-Chicago
• (Contact Porus Dadabhoy-Chicago,
  porusdad_at_yahoo.com).
• - Operation Eyesight offers eye care and
  glasses to the needy.
• (Contact Behram Pastakia - Washington,
  bpastakia_at_aol.com)
• - Zarathushti Peace Corps, encouraging
  individual acts of charity. (Contact
  Behram Pastakia - Washington, bpastakia_at_aol.com)
• - Genealogy Archives project by Dr. Rubina
  Patel will help Zarathushtis understand our
  common heritage. (Contact Behram
  Pastakia - Washington, bpastakia_at_aol.com)
• - Developing a State-of-the-Art Environment at
  Parsi General Hospital.
• (Contact Behram Pastakia - Washington,
  bpastakia_at_aol.com)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 14

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• V. Preservation of Rare and Valuable Manuscripts
  and Documents
• - The dire need to preserve and restore rare
  and valuable books and manuscripts at the
  Navsari Maherji Rana library and elsewhere. At a
  subsequent meeting Dasturji Kotwal
  mentioned the critical need to rebuild the
  dilapidated storage building at the Navsari
  Library.
• (Owner Homi Dhalla, WZCF-India,
  wzcf_at_bom8.vsnl.net.in, has placed 45
  out-of-print books on a CDROM. ) Note Dr.
  Dhalla has offered a collection of 400 old books
  to any worthy Zarathushti library.
  (Owner Natalie Vania will look into Googles
  project to digitize great works.) (Owner
  Homai Modi described ongoing restoration efforts
  at K. R. Cama Oriental Inst.) (Owner
  Shernaz Cama of PARZOR has undertaken
  restoration efforts for the Navsari
  manuscripts. (Owner Mention was made of
  ZTFE librarian Malcolm Deboos efforts to
  look into cost of professional restoration of
  manuscripts).
• - Persepolis Tablets, excavated by the Oriental
  Institute, Chicago, are under contention.
• (Owner Rohinton Rivetna, Chicago is in
  touch with Oriental Institute archeologists.

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 15

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• VI. Archeological and Cultural Projects
• - The World Zarathushti Cultural Foundation,
  India, has undertaken projects including
  Excavations in Sanjan an Archeological Museum
  for excavated artifacts a forthcoming book
  on Navsari reviving Gujarati language and
  monajats conservation work at Bahrot
  Caves a traveling Textiles Exhibit.
• (Owner Homi Dhalla, WZCF-India,
  wzcf_at_bom8.vsnl.net.in.
• - Shirin Mistry - Australia, requested help in
  collecting artifacts for a Zarathushti Expo at
  the World Youth Congress.
• - Alayar Dabestani mentioned that sculptor
  Homer Abramian of Australia plans to place
  100 statues of Cyrus the Great around the world.
  There was some sentiment that replicas of the
  Cyrus Cylinder may be more appropriate.
• Interfaith and UN Programs - Organizations
  should seek UN-NGO status, as FEZANA has, and
  participate in humanitarian and peace
  programs. (Owner Behram Pastakia has offered
  help in securing UN-NGO status.)
• - Need for a traveling Zarathushti Exhibit,
  that could be loaned around the world. (Owner
  Homi Dhalla is working on this through WZCF)
• - Promote Zarathushti participation in
  Interfaith circles. (Owner Behram Pastakia
  is working on placing Zarathushti logo at UN
  Chapel. (Owners Rohinton Rivetna and Homi
  Dhalla are working on an All-India Parliament of
  Religions.

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 16

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• VIII. Public Relations
• - Need for a coordinated response to
  misinformation in the media. (Owner FEZANA
  PR Committee is addressing this).
• World Congresses- Need a formal process and
  guidelines for holding world congresses,
  including World Youth Congresses.
  (Owners Firdosh Mehta, Behram Pastakia and
  Rohinton Rivetna are writing a document
  giving the selection process with RFP,
  requirements and guidelines.
• World Zoroastrian Council
• - Alayar Dabestani suggested that a Think
  Tank be formed to address the new World
  Zoroastrian Council that has been established in
  Paris, to cater to the purported large
  numbers who claim Zarathushti ancestry.
  (Owner Open)
• Iranian Committee
• Alayar Dabestani pointed out the need to form
  an Iranian Ad-Hoc Committee to aid
  Zarathushtis in the event of a political
  emergency in Iran. (Owner Open)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 17

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• XII. Proposal - World Zoroastrian General
  Assembly
• Kayzad Namdarian of Australia submitted a
  proposal in absentia United Towards
  Frashokereti, for a World Zoroastrian General
  Assembly (WZGA), to serve as an evolutionary
  step forward from the Coming Together Meeting.
• The proposal is to create an open structure
  forum of Zoroastrian entities around the world,
  for the following objective To ensure that
  Zarathushtras message survives future millennia,
  by solving common problems in a non-binding,
  voluntary way.
• WZGA is conceived to be simply a formalized
  gathering forum and not a body of bodies.
• It is completely non-binding, and serves to
  address common issues in a professional, formal
  way through dialogue, action and results.
• (Contact For the full proposal, contact
  Kayzadnamdarian_at_hotmail.com)

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COMING TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE - SUMMARY - 18

• Actionable Discussion items - Mumbai 2007 (Contd)
• XIII Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
• Nauzer Kasad, Chair of the Indian Federation of
  Zoroastrian Youth (FOZYA) painted a bleak picture
  of youth ready to give up, drifting away, due
  primarily to lack of support from Parsi
  organizations.
• (Owner Jimmy Mistry mentioned PRGs ongoing
  Youth Empowerment (YES) and Making a Difference
  (MAD) programs.
• (Owner Freyaz Shroff mentioned ZYNAs
  (Zoroastrian Youth of North America) efforts to
  create a World Youth Directory and an online
  youth network, and its active participation at
  the local and national levels in North America).
• (Owner Minoo Bhujwalla of New Orleans -
  mbhujwa_at_cox.net, has submitted a proposal for a
  Save the Zarathushti Youth Program and youth
  camp.
• (Owner Shirin Mistry of Australia
  (shirinmistry_at_yahoo.com.au) mentioned the Friends
  Forever program at the World Youth Congress in
  Melbourne in 2007, and hoped that a legacy of
  that Congress would be closer bonding between
  Zarathushti youth.)
• (Owner Rohinton Rivetna mentioned Next
  Generation Challenges conference (possible venue
  Chicago in Oct 2007).

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

• Thus, over the last two Coming Together
  RoundTables we have
• - Compiled a long list of global
  issues/challenges/projects - Grouped them into
  categories - Identified owners for a few
  actionable items and- Pursued a couple of
  action items to conclusion (e.g. S. Africa).
• One cannot expect a few dedicated individuals to
  take on this monumental task of moving these
  projects forward.
• OUR VISION
• Dare we dream of a formal Coming Together of
  all the Zarathushti Institutions of Humankind
  in a GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF ZOROASTRIAN
  ORGANIZATIONSto work together in Hamazori on
  issues of global import
• The Institutions of humankind
• - Governance (Federations/Associations e.g.
  FEZANA, ZTFE, FPZAI, Iran)- Religion (Mobeds
  Councils)- Socio-economic Welfare (WZO - World
  Zoroastrian Organization)- Business and Industry
  (WZCC - World Chamber of Commerce)- Arts and
  Culture (WZCF - World Zarathushti Cultural
  Foundation))- Traditional Voice (WAPIZ - World
  Alliance of Parsi-Irani Zoroastrians))- Women
  (ZWIN - Zoroastrian Womens International
  Network) and others

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE - 2

• Today Rustom has structured this Meeting of the
  Minds Forum, providing us an opportunity to
  discuss our situation here in North America.
• Let us use this time well, and develop an
  actionable plan at the regional, FEZANA level.
• This will be a step forward, then, to the next,
  global level.

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SOME GEMS

• The Present is a reflection of our past. The
  Future will be a reflection of the present.
• Romanticizing the past is dangerous. Taking
  inspiration from it is wise.
• Every generation faces its challenges. In our
  own time, we are facing the challeng of Keeping
  Together locally, nationally and worldwide.
• Together We are inheritors of vast knowledge,
  traditions and wisdom. We have a shared
  destiny.
• Dialogue brings minds together. Action brings
  hearts together.
• Our polestar is Social Harmony, which brings
  about Interconnectedness.
• We are striving to build relationships -- with
  each other, and with God.
• We are all in Noahs Arc. We must learn to live
  together in harmony, or, as a community we will
  perish.
• Our potential is huge. My dream, Your dream as a
  world wide community, is to realize our full
  potential and bring about a Zoroastrian
  Renaissance.
• Our Next Generation must become the Vital
  Generation that revitalizes our community,
  bringing it out of its parochial hybernation.
  Let us be vigilant, to ensure that they do not
  become the Lost Generation, poisoned by our
  strife.

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SOME GEMS - 2

• Let us begin to Think from the End.Let us
  begin to surround ourselves with the outcome as
  we envision it - OUR VISION.
• Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the
  feet of God First fill your house with the
  fragrance of love.
• Go not to the temple to light candles before
  the feet of God First remove the darkness from
  your heart.
• Go not to the temple to bow down your head in
  prayer First learn to bow in humility before
  your fellow men.
• Go not to the temple to pray on bended
  knees First bend down to lift someone who is
  downtrodden.
• Go not to the temple to ask forgiveness First
  forgive from your heart.
• - Rabindranath Tagore