“WZO’s stand”

This is with reference to a press note issued by the World Zoroastrian Or­ganisation (WZO) in the community media ("WZO’s stand,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, April 2005) and circulated to all anjumans, wherein it has accused those opposed to the WZO and the proposed world body, of indulging in mischievous and false propaganda against it. It is unfortunate that the WZO continues to dupe the community, with a clever play of words.

It is common knowledge that the WZO has kept its membership list a closely guarded secret. For the chairman of the Organisation, Sammy Bhiwandiwalla, to make a vague statement in the Press ("WZO’s stand,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, February 2005) like "out of a membership list running into a few thousand, there are six or so non-Zoroastrian spouses who are our members” is to publicly admit that he is ignorant of the exact position. The crux of the matter is that the WZO constitution clearly allows such membership. The constitution also allows converts to become members. Please note that WZO in its new avatar is WZO-Individuals Limited.

Page 1, clause 1 and 2 of the WZO (Individuals) constitution (bylaws) states the following can become individual members of the WZO, either as ordinary or life members or grand patrons and patrons: persons born into or professing the Zoroastrian faith; spouses married to Zoroastrians. The second clause clearly allows any persons professing the Zoroastrian faith (in other words, converts), to become members. This is in addition to non-Zoroastrian spouses who are covered by the third clause.

Further, WZO (Individuals) bylaws, page 3, clause 15, allows a convert to even become a member of the Council of Individuals of WZO (an office bearer) by stating, "The members shall elect a person (each of whom must be a Zarathushti in accordance with the commonly accepted practices of his/her region)...”

Since the commonly accepted practice of several associations in North America is to accept converts, it follows that these converts can be elected to the Council of Individuals. It would be in the fitness of things if the WZO explains to the community the presence of these clauses in their constitution.

According to the World Christian Enclopedia: A comparative survey of Churches and Religions in the world. 2nd Ed. Oxford: New York: Oxford University Press 2001, there are 2.2 million converts to Zoroastrianism, in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran!

By virtue of its very constitution, the WZO (Individuals) makes provision for their entry into the world body.

Bhiwandiwalla has in the press note also written: "Much is being made of pictures showing navjote ceremonies of some non-Zoroastrians being performed that were published in our newsmagazine Hamazor as a news item... The pictures received were published only by way of information. It certainly doesn’t mean that WZO has had any role to play in any of such navjotes.”

As usual, WZO has fallen short of telling the whole truth that the person performing the navjotes of the non-Zoroastrians is Mobed Kamran Jamshidi who is an international board member of the WZO.

Bhiwandiwalla has asked for specific examples of WZO’s anti religious activities, which are detrimental to the community:

It is common knowledge that if there is one single factor that can wipe out our small community from the face of the earth, it is intermarriage and conversion. WZO endorses and encourages both, under the guise of holding the family together.

The community in Bombay can never forget the anti-dakhmenashini role played by Dinshaw Tamboly, another international board member of the WZO then, whose mantra for "change” could have cost us our religious system of disposal of the dead. (Tamboly supported the solar panel project which is in use today — Editors.)

Bhiwandiwalla also writes, "It is a known fact that WZO has no funds of its own. All our activities are supported through donations raised.”

In view of the above statement, it is necessary for the WZO to inform the community when and which donors have donated monies for the WZO office premises in Bombay situated at Shanti, Fort, Bombay.

Let the WZO show some transparency and accountability for once instead of loosely using those words time and again. This is the reality that WZO is desperately seeking to sweep under the carpet, so as to not alienate their unsuspecting donors.

It is necessary for the community to be made aware that the WZO, by virtue of its membership, does not remain a Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian organization any more. To give the WZO access to our community institutions and community funds that are meant solely for Parsis/Iranis, not only goes against the wishes of the settlers of those institutions and trust funds but also works against the long-term interest of the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian community.

We hope the community will see through WZO’s clever play of words and hidden agenda.

FIRDOSH K. SUKHIA for Traditional Zarathushti Mailing List, HOSHANG WANIA for Save Doongerwadi and Community Foundation, FAROKH KOLAH for Traditional Mazdayasni Zarathushti Anjuman of New Zealand and JAL BIRDY for Traditional Mazdayasni Zarathusti Anjuman, California