Honored activists

Lord Karan Bilimoria received his first honorary doctorate from one of his alma maters — the London Metropolitan University where he studied for his chartered accountancy qualification. Interestingly, the award was presented by co-religionist and University governor Zenobia Nadirshaw. Though this is not his first honorary doctorate — Bilimoria has previously been honored by Brunel, Herriot-Watt and Staffordshire Universities — he said he was "deeply humbled and grateful for this great honor from my alma mater.”

London Metropolitan university, one of Britain’s largest Universities with over 34,000 students, of which 8,000 are international students, and Bilim­oria have worked together for many years and the relationship between the two is something he said he looks forward to continuing and strengthening in the future, notes the write-up.

Another Zoroastrian honored by the British establishment in recent months is celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala. Already a member of the British Empire (MBE), Todiwala has been made a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Greater London. He joins Bilimoria, long standing DL for Hounslow, as the second Deputy Lieutenant from the community.

Todiwala was installed as DL at Westminster Country Hall by Sir David Brewer, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London on December 10, 2008, notes an e-mail from London. A DL’s duties are to act as a Royal representative at events and functions where the royal family has been invited but cannot attend in person. Should a member of the Royal family attend an event, the DL is the first to receive the Royal party and then introduce them to the host, adds the message.

ZTFE periodically honors members of the community who have been particularly diligent in its welfare and its recognition in the wider national context by electing them as honorary members of the association. Two such individuals acknowledged on this occasion were Jehangir Sarosh and Khorshed Sodhi, as notes the informative and exquisitely remodeled ZTFE newsletter (Winter 2008).

Sarosh, as the European moderator of the apex organization Religions for Peace for the past nine years, and as co-vice chair of the Inter Faith Network of the UK for three terms, has increased awareness of the Zoroastrian faith in the UK and Europe so that it is recognized as one of the nine traditional world religions, noted Bhedwar in his welcome address. "His unique contribution, very often in the early days entirely on his own at great personal expense and effort, deserved to be recognized,” said Bhedwar.

Mistry announced the donation of a cheque of £ 5,000 to the ZTFE by Khorshed and Dr Mahinder Sodhi. Apart from several huge donations to the ZTFE, the Sodhis not only sponsored but also organized a superb Classical Indian Dance evening in May as a fund-raiser for the ZTFE, noted Mistry, recalling their personal interest in setting up the stage, providing appropriate lighting for the event, organizing catering, etc. "Apart from funding the cost of the classical dancers and their musicians, Khorshed and Mahinder also provided them accommodation and hospitality in their own house,” Mistry informed the gathering. Khorshed Sodhi has worked for the benefit of the community in a variety of ways ever since the 1970s. She was a pioneering supporter of the New Premises Project and has been assessed as the second largest donor to the ZTFE.