“The hospitable hotelier”

I would like to respond to the letter "The hospitable hotelier” by Shahpur Captain (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, April 21, 2007). I am grateful to Captain for confirming my statements published in Parsiana (January 21, 2007).

The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), London, is very correctly an association properly constituted and registered under the relevant laws of the United Kingdom. Like the Parsi Collegiate Association, the Young Mazda­yasnian Zoroastrian Association, etc, all associations have to be registered if they wish to operate in any civilized country.

The WZO is nothing more and nothing less than an association of "members” who desire that the group be called "WZO.” Only those who pay a membership fee to an association like WZO become its members and are entitled to vote, thereby limiting the selection of the committee to those who are members. WZO also never had on its board representatives elected from countries like India, Pakistan, Canada, USA, etc. Those on the WZO board are persons who are residents of different countries and have paid their membership fees, but there is no country representative who has been permitted by that country to represent the Zoroastrian community on the WZO board.

I suggest that at the next AGM the name be changed to "World Zoroastrian Organisation exclusively of UK.”

A more representative body than WZO is the "Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe” and yet it does not claim to be a world body. I understand that another association by the name of "FATWA Authority of World Zoroastrians” is in the making and is shortly to be registered. I wonder if the decrees and decisions of this organization will represent those of all Zoroastrians in the world.

Like any well known organization which does charitable work such as Rotary, Lions or Jaycees, WZO has done noble and charitable work, but that does not make it a world body representing Zoroastrians. Although WZO may take credit for the relief work done during the Gujarat farmers’ crisis, it was the various anjumans and other Zoroastrian associations worldwide that sent in huge contributions.

I stand by my statements and I am grateful to Captain for agreeing and confirming that WZO is a mere association having its headquarters in London and operating from UK, having "limited membership.”

BYRAM D. AVARI

Karachi, Pakistan