Hamazor’s new look

The first issue of the new Hamazor, the publication of the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), printed by the Regal Press Canada Limited in Ontario, and funded by its proprietor Marzi Byramjee, reached Parsiana in early April. Taking on the job of editor, WZO committee member and former Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal presi­dent Toxy Cowasjee writes, "My aspirations are to make the Hama­zor a medium for all Zarathushtis to share their thoughts in, whether traditionalists, mainstream or progressive as we are fortunate in the teachings of Zarathushtra, who tells us to use our minds.” Though the printing will be done in Toronto, the editorial and layout work will proceed in Karachi. This issue features an Afghan girl on the cover which has been designed by Tanaz Minwalla. Hitherto Hamazor had been produced by the Union Press in Bombay and Cowasjee as editor expresses the WZO commit­tee’s thanks "for producing our magazine for so many years.”

The 52-page art paper production includes a variety of articles including WZO chairman Rumi Sethna’s address at the annual general meeting of the WZO on September 23, 2001. Sethna notes that discussions on the WZO’s constitutional changes (to meet the requirements of a world body) are proceeding with each region at a time because discussing these "constitutional changes with several regions at one time would not achieve the result that we all are seeking.”

Other information on the WZO are reports by Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO Trust, India on the Sanjan Sanatorium and the genesis of its annual ghambar financed from the interest on a seven lakh rupee donation by the late Muljibhai Narsi in memory of his Parsi friend and benefactor Edal Kharas. The WZO’s role in protecting international Zarathushtis who fall foul of the local administration has also been examined in the context of the assassination of the Tajik Zarathushti leader Rudaki Samadi.

"A sky full of stars” by Pennsylvania attorney Dina McIntyre provides an inspired response to the question, "Why do I like the Gathas?” McIntyre’s four-page essay encapsulates Gathic philoso­phy in everyday terms to which the youthful reader too can re­late.

Another outstanding general article pertains to the discov­ery of the 1.25 mile long canal dug through the peninsula in Northern Greece by Phoenician engineers at the bidding of King Xerxes in 480 BC. The findings by scientists from Britain and Greece confirm the description of the engineering feat provided by Greek historian Herodotus which had hitherto been regarded with scholarly skepticism, writes Yudhijit Bhattacharjee. The article had initially appeared in The New York Times of November 13, 2001.

Expressing his pain at the dilemma faced by Zoroastrians in Iran Dr Farhang Mehr, professor emeritus of international rela­tions at Boston University, examines the Islamic laws, reinsti­tuted about 10 years ago and currently in operation there, which use devious financial pressure to undermine the community’s numbers. According to these laws any convert to Islam becomes the sole inheritor of the family fortune to the detriment of other siblings and/or direct heirs. Also, the Iranian criminal code entails the payment of blood money to the Islamic victim of violence/accident or his/her heirs by the perpetrator of the crime. No such allowance is available to the victims of other communities.

A chronological history of Afghanistan and a recount by Sunnu Golwalla of the Karachi citizens’ humanitarian aid to the Afghan refugees orchestrated by Cowasjee, make interesting read­ing.

While Homi Davier documents the establishment of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, a 14-page section, "Global gup­sup” incorporates news of Zarathushti activities from Australia, Belarus, Canada, Dubai, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, UK, USA and Uzbekistan. Readers are requested to communicate local news, with photographs to Cowasjee <toxy@cyber.net. pk>.

The next issue is slated to carry readers’ letters and a short story by outstanding Zoroastrian novelist Bapsi Sidhwa. Cowasjee notes, "hopefully each issue will feature one Zar­athushti author.”