Embellishing the ZHCC

When Meher Rustomji asked members of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) in March 2001 whether they were ready to instill the heritage and culture into their center in Houston, the response was electric. The enthusiasm backed by contributions enabled Rus-tomji to commission artist Audi Tubbe to create a large mural in the atrium. The vivid oil canvas measuring 19 ft by 11 ft, titled Persian Garden Dream, was unveiled in the presence of 150 Zarathushtis on the Mehrgan Gambhar celebration in October, notes Aban Rustomji in an e-mail.

The painting depicts Noshirwan Adil granting audience to a sorrowful old complainant. The collage also includes other scenes from the Shahnameh — of Zal and Rudabeh, the battle between Zabolestan and Kabolestan, etc. Legends to explain the painting in English and Farsi will soon be displayed near the mural, writes Aban Rustomji.

Meher Rustomji’s other plans to beautify the Zoroastrian Heritage and Cultural Center (ZHCC) includes the commissioning of archers for the main entrance and await further donations.

Meher Rustomji and the Persian Garden Dream at Houston

The ZHCC’s ongoing Library Project aims to set up a multipurpose room which would include a children’s reading section, a section for casual browsing with the latest community publications and viewing the collected memorabilia of the late Dastur (Dr) Manek Dhalla. Also to be provided is an on-line catalog of books on Zoroastrian religion, history and culture, writes Aban Rustomji. To popularize the greater use of the Center are plans to organize discussions with authors, hold interfaith gatherings and strategies for parent education. The Library Project Committee is ready to receive and acknowledge donations in books or cash, adds Aban Rustomji. So far $ 5,000 are in the kitty thanks to ZAH members and the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macau, as per the ZAH newsletter Manashni (October 2002).