Houston highlights

The Zarathusti Group (ZG) comprising 30 families who had the foresight to assess future community requirements and invest in land had initially donated 4.3 acres to the community 10 years ago — land on which their Zarathushti Heritage and Cultural Center (ZHCC) was built. ZG has now donated a further 2.5 acres whose market value is approximately $ 125,000. The total land provided by the ZG, which amounts to 6.8 acres valued at more than $ 300,000, has been given unconditionally, notes Manashni (February 2003). The ZG expects to sponsor a gahambar to celebrate the event and officially deed the property to the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH), notes the newsletter.

ZAH’s Library project is proceeding apace with new books being contributed by members to add to their 4,000 volume collection. A list of relevant titles is announced in the ZAH newsletter Manashni for the benefit of would-be donors. Of the total project estimate of $ 60,000, inclusive of furniture which accounts for 50 percent of the cost, fundraising by the library committee had netted marginally over 10 percent, as per a report by Aban Rustomji a year ago.

In tune with their intention to organize four events each year they had held a showing of the film Earth based on author Bapsi Sidhwa’s The Icecandy Man. The movie had been followed by a discussion with the author.

In April 2003 the ZAH Library Program Series, cosponsored by the Asia Society, scheduled a reading from Sohrab Fracis’ Ticket to Minto. The collection of 12 short stories about India and America and the harsh realities of immigrant life had won Fracis the 2001 Iowa Short Fiction Award. Fracis is the first Indian author to win the prestigious award. The reading was followed by an interview of the author, a book sale, etc.

At the ZAH No Rouz (Navroz) dinner an elderly gentleman choked on his food and became unconscious. The emergency medical services were called but their vehicles were unable to come to the door because of all the double-parked vehicles in the driveway. Though the paramedics eventually took the patient to hospital, the event has left the ZAH committee seriously considering the need for creating more parking spaces, notes Manashni (April 2003).