Iranian meet

The evening following the close of the Eighth World Zoroastrian Congress the Iranians of London, led by Simin Shah­rokh, held a special meet for the delegates from Iran. The commu­nity’s senior statesman and scholar Prof Farhang Mehr took the occasion to address the delegates in Farsi on what had been a sore point during the Congress: the lack of interpretation facilities. "We all belong to one family. Have unity, tolerance…” He endorsed ZTFE committee member Shahrokh Sha­rokh’s comment that people make demands without realizing its cost or how much is possible. He went on to tell them, "There is no need to feel inferior to other religions which have political power like the Jews and Moslems. Our religion is the religion of wisdom. The Prophet has told us that each of us have our own wisdom, we must think for ourselves. That is why we have so much freedom in our religion which you do not see with others. No religion can prevent earthquakes. But we can withstand it if we are united.”

Top Left: Parimarze Niknam (dancing) with Mehraban and Paridokht Zartoshty. Below: Mehr with Shahrokh Shahrokh, Dorab Mistry and Firooz Khosraviyani ; Above (left) Simin Shahrokh and Mehr. (Right) Homayun Goushtaspour Alongside (ext R) Farangis Zardoshty

Addressing the Iranians’ diffidence vis-à-vis Parsis because of their shaky knowledge of English, Mehr noted, "There is no difference between Iranians and Parsis,” going on to relate how Parsis had the same privilege as Iranians when he was in positions of power under Reza Shah Pahlevi. "Other Indians needed work permits; not Parsis. I am very proud of that.” He recalled how Parsi industrialists who had come to Iran had told Iranian Zoroastrians similarly, "There is no difference between us.” He remembered the charity work of Parsis for their brethren in Iran and reminded the Iranians, "There have been no donations from the Zoroastrians of Iran. These have come from the Iranian Zoroastrians of North America.” Recalling that some people say "go after quality, not quantity,” Mehr said, "Go after both. Whether in Iran or anywhere else, Zoroastrians have a good name, are regarded as good people which (a reputation) we have achieved with good thoughts, good words and good deeds.”