Khatami meets Parsis

"An obviously excited Iranian President Mohammad Khatami dropped all diplomatic formalities and ignored security arrangements when he walked down from the podium at the Iranian Consulate General in Hyderabad to talk to a gathering of about 300 Iranians, Parsis and Hyderabadis,” noted a news item in The Deccan Chronicle of January 29, 2003, reporting on the previous day’s activities.

Departing from protocol and breaking the security cordon, the President stepped down from the dais and personally met the Zoroastrians of the twin cities on January 28, 2003, shortly before he returned to Iran, notes a report from the honorary secretary of the Zoroastrian Club in Secunderabad, Ervad Kerfegar Antia.

In his 30-minute address during which time he showered the Parsis — both in Iran and India — with accolades, the President singled out the community members for their nobility and achievements in trade. Barely 24 hours before the arrival of the President "we received a phone call from the Iranian Consulate at Hyderabad conveying his desire to meet a few Parsi Zoroastrians, including the priestly class, of the twin cities,” states the report. Thus Ervads Antia, Aspi Patel and Jehangir Dastoor in their full ceremonial dress represented the priestly class.

Pestonji (left) presenting A Zoroastrian Tapestry to Khatami

"The warmth with which the President met the Parsis was absolutely touching,” adds the report. On being presented with a shawl by Antia, the President enquired of him whether he had visited Iran and when given a negative reply he urged Antia to visit the country at the earliest. The cordiality extended by the President prompted Antia to ­request him to give all possible assistance to the Zoroastrians residing in Iran. A leading Hyderabad businessman Capt Kayarmin Pestonji spoke briefly on the activities of the community in Hyderabad-Secundera­bad and presented the President with a copy of A Zoroastrian Tapestry.

The Zoroastrian Club enjoys a close rapport with the Iranian Consulate at Hyderabad. Every year they have a friendly cricket match which is organized by the Consulate, reports Antia.