Within and without WZO

Who should be included and who should be excluded? In its forward march the 30-year-old World Zoroastrian Organi­sation (WZO), headquartered in the UK, seeks to throw open its doors to all Zoroastrians, irrespective of their ethnic origin. In contrast, its Indian offshoot, WZO(I) is determined to restrict entry to only those Zoroastrians, both whose parents are of Parsi/Irani lineage. After several rounds of discussion WZO conceded that any region could have autonomy in its membership clause. But when WZO(I) insisted that their membership criteria be adopted by the international body, WZO declared partition on the rationale that "they no longer share the same aims and objectives, membership criteria, activities or ethos of WZO,” as announced Darayas Motivala, chairman of WZO.

The decision to sever ties is not the prerogative of the WZO committee but needs validity at a properly convened SGM (special general meeting) in Bombay when all members of WZO and WZO(I) vote on this issue, countered a joint statement issued by Rusi Bhumgara, president and Nozer Meherji, vice president of WZO(I). "Until then WZO(I) is very much a legitimate part of WZO and it will continue to use its registered address, charity number, name, logo and motto,” they added.

Contradictory statements and conflicting claims may have ruptured the relations between these bodies. The stalemate however does not impede the functioning of the three WZO Trusts in India, managed by Dinshaw and Bachi Tam­boly, that continue with their charitable activities free from the interference of either of these warring bodies.

(Top): WZO chiefs Sammy Bhiwandiwalla (left) and Darayas Motivala; (Above): WZO committee at the 30th anniversary celebration

"It is best we keep them apart”

"Parsi ethnicity is different from Zoroastrian religion. I want people to understand the difference,” stressed Motivala in an interview with Parsiana when he came down to Bombay in January 2011. "WZO is not a religious body. Our purpose is to do charitable work and help Zoroastrians around the world. WZO is not saying ‘Convert to Zoroastrianism.’ We are saying ‘If you are a Zoroastrian then you can become a member of WZO legitimately.’ Basically the change is meant to include Iranian Zoroastrians who do not follow Parsi ethnicity and customs… Where are we putting the ‘community into jeopardy with such adventurous antics’ as alleged by WZO(I)?” he demanded. The very fact that WZO(I) want to retain the connection is because they see "some value in the WZO name and logo,” countered Motivala.

WZO(I)’s fears that the proposed change "is too broad based and throws open the doors to all and sundry” are misplaced believes Motivala who is irked with their reasoning that nudists and drug addicts in Brazil and Mexico or the likes of Osama bin Laden claiming to be Zoroastrians would stain the name of the religion and possibly misuse the assets of the community.

"We have wasted time and it has sapped my energy. They are intransigent… They said ‘We are going to force you to accept our stand.’ We said, ‘Sorry, we can’t accept’… We have gone out of our way to appease them but we can’t allow that…” Motivala trails off. He was also disappointed that WZO(I)’s "emphasis now is more on social activities — holidays for members — rather than charitable ones, which is again a change of priorities… When there are two organizations so apart, it is best we keep them apart.”

It was in 2009 that the parent body found out that seven years earlier WZO-(I) had changed its membership form and rules permitting membership to only those born of both Parsi/Irani parents "without telling us.” Giving the genesis Motivala noted, "WZO(I) was formed 26 years ago to mirror the image of WZO. Since we could not take money out of India,” the Indian chapter was authorized to handle the accounts. As per the constitution, a member of WZO(I) automatically became a member of the parent body and membership forms would be forwarded to UK. In 1993 the global body changed its membership clause to include non-Zoroastrian spouses and children of interfaith marriages after securing a majority on a worldwide referendum. Rather than exclude Zoroastrians who have married out of the community WZO seeks to make the non-Parsi spouses feel they are a part of the family. "We don’t want to kill a generation of people because they have married non-Zoroastrians,” says Motivala.

The understanding between the two organizations continued amicably until 1997 after which the India chapter stopped sending forms. The claim by WZO(I) that they have "handed over all information, membership forms and membership data in the formats requested by WZO” was countered by Motivala saying they have only given a CD bearing names and addresses. "It doesn’t help because I can’t put it into my membership system. I don’t know when the person became a member.” According to his estimates, WZO(I) probably has around 3,000 individual and 30 anjuman members currently as compared to 4,000-5,000 seven years ago.

With rising differences among the two bodies, last year WZO announced that they will only recognize members from India who have joined prior to 2002 and not those who have signed on the amended forms of WZO(I) unless such members specifically convey that they wish to align themselves with WZO. "We never received subscription” from the WZO(I) members and in fact "were paying for their Hamazor (quarterly publication of WZO) distri­bution,” stated Motivala.

Refuting the statements made by Bhumgara and Meherji that "in 2002 WZO again chose to amend its membership rules to make it possible for those who profess the religion to become members of WZO” irrespective of the faith into which they were born, Motivala insisted, "We have been talking since 2002 but this has not been done.”

According to Motivala, after several rounds of discussion WZO agreed on a change in its membership clause in 2008 with a proviso that any region can have its own membership rules. When Motivala met the India committee in early 2009 they expressed their reservations on the proposed change but agreed to fall in line. The only person who showed his displeasure was Kersi Limathwalla of Bombay who chose to resign. Soon after this Meherji retracted, said Motivala.

Ever since they announced the split, 120 members from India opted to become members of WZO. The current strength of WZO Motivala did not cite stating, "To us the number of members is not important.” They have different categories of members: grand patron on payment of £ 600; patron £ 300; life member £ 150; family or anjuman £ 250; ordinary member for three years £ 40; ordinary member £ 15 per annum; friend of WZO £ 15 where academics and others who do not qualify under the membership rules are welcomed to the social functions but not permitted voting rights; students are gratis till 25 years of age.

"We have members from 24 countries and representatives from 10 countries serve on our managing committee,” Motivala had provided an overview in Hamazor, issue 4, 2010. Whilst they are registered as a charity in the UK, USA and New Zealand, "the bulk of our income comes from charities and trusts such as the Erach and Roshan Sadri Foundation and the Firuz Madon Trust. This is because we are trusted to disburse funds judiciously and responsibly. Our charity giving in India is primarily through the WZO Trusts there, whilst elsewhere we give directly to the needy or though a local trusted charity.” Providing financial support to WZO are two UK based trusts, The World Zarathush­trian Trust Fund set up with a generous endowment of £ 150,000 from Mehraban and Goli Farhangi, and the Kutar Fund set up by an endowment by Dr Shirin­banoo Kutar.

Motivala alludes to the charitable work WZO is able to do in Yazd, Iran under the aegis of the Pouruchista Foundation where they run a senior citizens home and skill center where non-Muslims can be imparted vocational training and basic skills. In Pakistan WZO helped out at the time of the Bam earthquake and the recent floods. Help to the sick and ailing is extended through the Noshirwan Cowasjee Medical Benevolent Fund. Under the Aloo Vatcha legacy a bequest has been created for educational funds with a corpus of £ 65,000. Referring to their ability to help out in emergencies, Motivala mentions that they "do not have vast funds. The money that comes in, goes out on causes stipulated by the donor.” Around nine months ago the committee decided to invest in the next generation by sponsoring two youth to attend the World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in Vancouver.

Seminars on religion every year are also the hallmark of WZO. Equally popular are their Gatha colloquiums where they inform people on the religion.

There has also been non-Zoroastrian support for the WZO objectives from the Dennis William Foun­dation, as also Alex and Val­erie Burns. The bar­be-ques hosted by some of the members turn out to be fund-raisers too. They are hopeful that sponsorship support for their Hamazor ma­gazine will continue from large-hearted donors. Encouraged by such largesse, Motivala declares, "We must be doing something right.”

"Doing more for our members”

The membership strength of WZO(I) is "around 2,700-800 with around 200-300 new members joining each year,” stated Bhumgara in an interview with Parsiana in March 2011. "In the entire world WZO may not have 4,000 members,” he conjectured. WZO(I) though is particular that only those born of both Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian parents are permitted membership. Within their ranks there are barely a dozen males and not a single female who has married out of the community. In fact one such outmarried male who was serving on their 15-member committee was forced to resign when they came to learn of his non-Parsi wife.

As per their constitution the 15 elected members of the committee decide on the office bearers. After 26 years at the helm, their long-standing president Dadi Engineer was replaced last September when he did not submit his nomination for election to the committee on the assumption that he would be reelected as in the years past. "But with no other member of the committee supporting (him) he was isolated,” pointed out Bhumgara. [Motivala though was "very appreciative of the support given by…Engineer through the years and of his efforts to convince his committee to seek a path of reconciliation. He will continue to enjoy our full confidence along with the other members (Dadi Mistry, Delhi; Mani Clubwala, Madras; Meher Amersey and Homi Khusrokhan, Bombay) of WZO’s managing committee.”]

Among the demands put forth by WZO(I) are that Meherji be reinstated as member of the international board; and that Bhumgara and joint honorary treasurer Percy Mistry be accepted on the international board. Bhumgara was upset with the WZO: "They went to the extent of asking me to prove my membership.” Knowing they had corresponded with him over the years [he was joint treasurer of WZO(I) since 1987 and joint secretary since 1993 before he took over as president] he was disappointed with the WZO stance, more so since he was "made a member in the mid 1980s by the late Zal Contractor and Silloo Kavarana…

"They have warned us not to use the WZO name and logo. We are telling them they should not use the term ‘Zoroastrian’ in their name. According to them Zoroastrian does not mean Parsi/Irani,” reiterated Bhumgara who views himself as a "staunch traditional Zarathushti, not like those who say ‘our dharam is excellent and then go to Lalbaugcha Raja (the most revered idol of Ganpati housed in a mandap at Lalbaug).” He was firm, "If you want to get married outside, best of luck. But you can’t have the cake and eat it too. That is wrong in my personal opinion.”

Rusi Bhumgara and Nozer Meherji (6th and 5th from right) with members of the WZO (I) committee at the felici­tation for cricketer Zubin Surkari (7th from right) Photo: Sarosh Daruwalla, Mazda Audio Video Labs

Not interested in getting mired in controversies, given a choice he would rather focus on welfare and sports activities, declared Bhumgara who has been general secretary of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture (FOZAWAC) for the last 16 years and joint honorary secretary of the All Parsees Sports Foundation since the last 12 years. Besides providing for an occasional lunch at the Parukh Dharamshalla and the Dadar Athornan Institute, WZO(I) distributes packets at the widows’ chawls and to the free inmates of the Pallonji Shapoorji Home for Senior Citizens of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital. At their gahanbar this year 500 poor Zoroastrians were fed free of cost with a contribution of Rs 60,000 from the WZO Trust Funds. Whilst around five percent must be genuinely poor, according to his estimates, "jaré fokat maa khaavaanu hoi tau ghanaa ‘poor’ thai jaay (when free meals are on offer many claim to be poor).” The WZO should do "more of service projects, particularly for the old and neglected. We are doing more for our members,” he observed.

As announced in their December communiqué, WZO(I)’s program for the first half of 2011 included free tickets for members to the Parsi Festival Concert by the B. P. Salon Orchestra at the NCPA theater; two sessions of housie and dinner at the Sethna Agiary Hall; overnight picnic to Silvassa; two gahanbars (one of which was sponsored by Meherji); Dae mah jashan followed by dinner. The highlight of the first quarter was the felicitation organized for international cricketer Zubin Surkari and other sportspersons on March 10. For the dinner events and outstation trips the members’ contribution is subsidized by WZO(I). They do however charge more from non-members and permit non-Parsis as guests but Bhumgara finds that no non-Parsi guests are brought to these functions. Their life membership fees are Rs 3,000 per individual, Rs 5,000 per couple. Ordinary membership is granted only to senior citizens who pay Rs 900 for three years.

WZO(I) has over a crore of rupees in its corpus and from their education fund of Rs 27 lakhs they offer interest free loans for higher education or pay fees of educational institutions for those who cannot afford. They also co-sponsor FOZAWAC’s student felicitation function. To build up a medical fund the present committee is contemplating initiating a fund raising drive.

They are the beneficiaries of a property in Udvada but are not sure whether they will be granted permission to redevelop it as they did the Katila Lodge nearly a decade ago. At that time their Youth Wing, with the support of WZO, converted a bungalow into a tourist lodge to facilitate the stay of indigent Zoroastrians in Udvada. They accept only Rs 40 per day as lodging charges from a passenger and arrange for a meal on payment of an additional Rs 80. To finance this facility WZO(I) spends between one lakh and two lakhs each year, reported Bhumgara.

"Continue with our charitable work”

"Since we already operate in India as WZO anyway, reconstituting a branch in India does not appear to be necessary at this point of time,” conveyed Khusrokhan who along with Amersey, Clubwala, Engineer and Mistry officiate as directors of WZO and also as managing committee members. "Each year substantial funds are remitted to the WZO Trust Funds and we will continue with our charitable work as before. WZO(I) has always operated independently as far as these activities are concerned,” clarified Khusrokhan in response to Parsiana’s e-mail queries.

"WZO always financed its own activities in India and that will continue as before,” stated Khusrokhan whilst explaining that new members from India to the WZO will be directly accepted by the WZO headquarters in London or through the website. "Subject to sponsorship and donors coming forward we hope to reintroduce Hamazor to our Indian membership.” The need for WZO(I) to discontinue using the WZO logo, UK address and the UK charity number was reiterated "as it is clearly misleading and only confuses people. One hopes that they will be sensible about this.”

WZO director Homi Khusrokhan (left) and vice president Toxy Cowasjee: focus on useful work

"Time for us to move on”

"Our communities in each country carry on with their own ideals, their own aspirations, their own goals and at most times effectively. With this in mind, WZO decided, with the endorsement from the entire managing committee which included people on the board from all countries, that it was time we broke away from WZO (India) who felt it was their right to dictate terms to WZO,” noted Toxy Cowasjee, vice pre­sident of WZO, in an editorial in Hama­zor, issue 4, 2010. She added, "It is to be noted that we at WZO accepted the right of WZO (India) to follow their own viewpoint as long as it was for India only, where they have their own jurisdiction. Unfortunately WZO (India) has behaved as a spoilt child who wails away for attention, by inserting advertisements/letters in the Indian Press, creating a combination of misinformation, scaremongering and ignorance. It is time for us to move on, which is our desire, so our energies may be focused on continuing to do useful work in the world.”