Sovereign sesquicentennial

One hundred and fifty years is peanuts. I hope you are still here in 2,000 years’ time.” The words of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who had come to grace the sesquicentennial celebrations of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) on the morning of October 6, 2011 brought a smile to the faces of the over 400 members of the community who had come to witness the proceedings.

In his brief address the Prince stated, "I am happy to join you in this celebration...The community has made a huge contribution to the British Isles and it is very much appreciated...It’s a remarkable record.” He further added with a smile, "Nowadays we are all for religious freedom but it helps a lot if they are peaceful as well...I do congratulate you for all your achievements.”

As declared ZTFE president Malcolm Deboo, "It is the first time in the history of our 150-year-old ZTFE that the consort of a reigning monarch of the UK has made an official visit to a Zoroastrian place of worship. This in itself is history in the making. Today we bear witness to two historical events…

"It was exactly 150 years ago during their second meeting on October 6, 1861 that the Zoroastrians of UK agreed to establish the national faith association, the forerunner of the ZTFE of today to ensure that Zoroastrians would never be a burden on the British exchequer when alive or after their demise... We are the oldest religious voluntary organization in the UK of South Asian origin.”

Referring to the unconcealed "affection for the monarch since the time of Queen Victoria,” Deboo appreciated that they were permitted "to practise the Zoroastrian religion freely” considering that they were denied this privilege even in the birthplace of their Prophet. With their numbers having risen to 5,000 during Queen Elizabeth’s monarchy, Deboo addressed the Prince, "May the wise counsel provided by you and others including the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury allow Her Majesty to continue to be the defender of the faith...”

(Clockwise from l-r ) Prince Philip being led up the hall by Malcolm Deboo; priests join Ervad Rustom Bhedwar (second from left) in the Zoroastrian Service of Thanksgiving; Shahrokh Shahrokh (extreme left) and leading members of the Zoroastrian community in the UK await an introduction to the Prince;

"Amazed and inspired” by Prince Philip’s energy at the age of 90, Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea commended his "acuteness and intellect” and couldn’t help admiring how he was "so knowledgeable about the community.” Bilimoria recalled an earlier conversation with the Duke on the importance of protecting vultures. On being told that the drug diclofenac was killing vultures, the Prince is supposed to have remarked in jest "the vultures are dying because there aren’t enough Parsis for them to eat!” Despite the community numbers reducing decade by decade Bilimoria took pride in the community’s "big brains and big hearts,” adding they could be described as "capitalists with self reliance” and "socialists who put back their wealth for the community, believing in being the best in the world and for the world.”

(front row from left) Paurushasp Jila, Deboo, the Prince, Lord Karan Bilimoria and Brig Archie Miller-Bakewell; Jesmin Sorab garlanding the Prince; Iranian ladies and Parsi ladies ready to welcome the Prince;

Informing the gathering that he was "so proud to see the Prince drive in a Tata car, the Landrover,” Bilimoria referred to the Prince’s earlier interaction with members of the community. In 1961 when Bilimoria’s father Faridoon was the aide-de-camp to then President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad who was hosting the Prince in India he had been required to organize a trunk call to London for the Prince since it was the first birthday of his son Prince Andrew.

In addition to his outstanding support to the Queen, Bilimoria gave Prince Philip credit for initiating "The Duke of Edinburgh Scheme that has changed the lives of millions of children around the world.”

Besides the local community that had gathered to witness the event were special invitees of the Interfaith Network for the UK, and overseas dignitaries like the president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India Dinshaw Mehta and the president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America Bomi Patel. "Within these three regions reside over 75 percent of the world Zoroastrian population,” observed Deboo. After Deboo presented the first 150-year-medallion to the Prince and draped him with a shawl, eminent members of the local Zoroastrian community presented him impressive tomes: Rusi Dalal, Zoroastrians in Britain, Mandana Moavenat, Persepolis – City of the Persians, Bilimoria, Portraits of a Community in the 19th and 20th century. Mehta and Patel presented plaques that they had carried for the occasion.

Yet another dignitary who was specially presented to the Prince was Farrokh Kavarana, director of Tata Sons and Tata Industries who mentioned how Tatas have had connection with Britain since 1907 when Tata Limited manufactured steel under the most difficult circumstances. According to him the Tatas have invested £ 10 billion in the UK, directly employing 43,000 members and the supply chain extended to 75,000 making them "probably the largest employers in UK in the manufacturing sector.” He was happy to inform that Tata Consultancy Services may be considered the largest software company in India. "The Tatas contribute £ 500 million to direct taxes,” said Kavarana, adding, "We are proud to be high tax payers and intend to be good corporate citizens like our founders and successors.” Being a life member of the ZTFE, with his interactions commencing in 1963 when he came to study in England, Kavarana appreciated how it was "a safe haven for young students...and how our parents in India were happy that ZTFE was around.” He remembered interacting with earlier presidents like Dr Jehangirji Moos and Dr Shirinbanoo Kutar.

Clockwise from top left: Prince Philip delivering a brief address; sharing the podium with the Prince; Malcolm Deboo introducing the Prince to Dinshaw Mehta with Bomi Patel in the background; readying for a Parsi luncheon; Paurushasp Jila, Dorab Mistry, Farrokh Kavarana; Rusi Dalal with Harrow mayor Mrinal Choudhury

Referring to the major acquisitions by Tatas of brands like Tetley, Corus, Landrover, Kavarana thanked the Prince who had driven by this car for "the amount of free publicity your Highness has given us” and hoped these iconic British brands would be preserved by the Tatas.

"I will always be grateful to the Tata enterprises,” stated the Duke reminiscing about his earlier days when his passion for flying had taken him to India. Landing in a big airfield would have been "counterproductive,” remarked the jovial Prince adding that had he landed in Bombay they would have probably said, "What the hell are you doing here?” It was in Jamshedpur therefore that he landed his aircraft, availing of the hospitality of their "very big guest house.” The Prince’s statement "It occurred to me that I arrived in a Zoroastrian car,” was quoted in the Harrow Observer of the next day.

Select individuals considered themselves fortunate to receive at the hands of the Prince the ZTFE commemorative medallion. Godrej Bhumgara, Marzban Dastoor, Silloo and Kersey Jasavala, Hoshang Khambatta, Mahnaz Ostad and Savak Rustomji were recognized for their service to the ZTFE and the community. ZTFE also honored Brian Pearce, founder director of the Inter Faith Network for the UK and the Zartoshty Brothers, Mehraban and the late Faridoon for their munificence over the years.

Three members of the Zoroastrian community born in the same year as the Duke were specially felicitated by the ZTFE: Nariman Contractor, Ervad Jal Karkaria and Dr Dara Marchant (see a forthcoming issue of Par­siana for an insight into their lives).

Prince Philip studies the pages of Parsiana magazine

Welcome for the Prince

A line-up of seven Parsi ladies Roshan Avari, Freny Writer, Nergish Avari, Shenaz Sadri, Jesmin Sorab, Nilam Buhariwala and Shanaz Mistry were to the right of the main entrance to give the Prince the traditional achhoo-michhoo, each of them taking turns to step forward with symbolic offerings. The Prince, in good humor, would pass a comment at each stage. To the left were the Iranian ladies in Persian attire Simin Shahrokh, Paridokh Falahati, Mandana Moavenat, Mahnaz Ostad and Vista Ostad who were standing with a tray laden with dryfruits and mirror and rose water to spread cheer.

Twenty minutes were set aside to receive the Prince during which he was taken round the foyer and introduced to some of the leading members of the Zoroastrian community in UK including the priests Ervads Rustom Bhedwar and Zal Sethna, the architect of the Zoroastrian Centre, Shahrokh Shahrokh who was in a wheelchair, present and erstwhile trustees of ZTFE, Paurushasp Jila, Rusi Dalal, Adi Bilimoria, Firoze Munshi, counsel emeritus Noshir Avari, World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, UK chapter chair Shernaz Engineer, Young Zoroastrians chair Tina Mistry, Extra Young Zoroastrians (XYZ) Children Fun Club coordinator Nazreen Avari and Zoroastrian scholars Prof John Hinnells and Dr Rashna Writer. The Duke was accompanied by Brig Archie Miller-Bakewell at the Zoroastrian Centre after he was formally received by John Purnell, representative deputy lieutenant for Harrow who brought the Prince from the car to the Zoroastrian Centre on the specially rolled out red carpet.

As he walked down the aisle of the Zartoshty Brothers Hall to the strains of 2 Yatha 1 Ashem composed by Prof Ibrahim Pourdavoud he was introduced to some more members before he was led to his seat. With a blue velvet topi on his head he sat through the prayers where six Zoroastrian priests Ervads Rustom Bhedwar, Zal Sethna, Marzban Dastoor, Jalbhai Karkaria, Zubin Bhedwar and Zubin Writer performed the "Zoroastrian Service of Thanksgiving” to mark 150 years of ZTFE. The translation of the prayer in English helped the audience understand the significance of the prayers.

The joint masters of ceremonies, former ZTFE presidents Dorab Mistry and Jila, took the guests on a whirlwind tour of the 150-year history of the community and the current activities of the association. Mistry started with the Wadia frigate HMS Trincomalee and ended with the Jaguar Land Rover, incorporating visuals of the Prince’s visit to India in 1993 when he interacted with industrialist Sohrab Godrej, both being patrons of the World Wide Fund for Nature. The current activities of the organization, encouraging the involvement of young members through religious classes and other scholastic programs, interaction with interfaith members and SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), were presented by Jila. The slide show was prepared by Darius Karkaria, information officer at ZTFE.

Following the speeches and the singing of the national anthem, God Save The Queen, the Prince was once again introduced to some more members of the audience before he was led up to the board room where he and the Brigadier joined six members for lunch.

Repast with Royalty

Specially catered by Armin and Yazdi Dastur of Armin’s Catering, the Prince was treated to dhan dar and machhi no patio, followed by sev garnished with roasted almonds and currants, according to the printed menu card. Zubin Daruwalla and Freny Writer were set the duty of serving the Duke, given special instructions that drinks had to be offered from his right, and food from his left.

Sitting at the lunch table with the Duke and the Brigadier were Bilimoria, Deboo, and four youth members because the Prince was particularly interested in interacting with young Zoroastrians. The youth who were privileged to join the Duke at lunch were Rohinton Munshi, Nazreen Avari, Tina Mistry and the youngest Zal Canteenwala, aged 12.

Preview for the Prince

Only after the Buckingham Palace website announced the Duke’s program in August could Deboo and his team of volunteers officially finalize the program, invite members of the local community as also the overseas visitors. There was a flurry of activity to prepare for the Prince. To ensure the smooth progress of the Prince’s movements, facilities coordinator Ratan Buhariwala was in charge of the premises. Special crockery and cutlery befitting the occasion had to be purchased.

Two nights prior to his arrival, key members were called to the Zoroastrian Centre to run through the paces, to time the event, because the entire proceedings were expected to run with clockwork precision. The excitement was palpable.

Many members in the community attested that photos of the royal household adorned the walls of their homes or how the seniors in the family even kept note of the birthdays of different members of the royal family. Apparently even fire temples in India bore portraits of Queen Victoria at one time, reported Kavarana.

The luncheon arrangements had to be near perfect too such that the space between the plates was literally measured. Bottles of lager and pale ale, orange and tomato juice or mineral water were kept ready because they had been informed of the Prince’s preference by the Palace beforehand. But to everyone’s surprise the Prince asked for Cobra Beer, Bilimoria sitting next to him being instrumental in building up the business empire. A bottle was then promptly procured for him from the ZTFE bar.

Post-lunch piety

After lunch the Duke was given a guided tour of the Zoroastrian Centre, the grade II listed art deco structure by Mistry, introduced to the priests and their spouses and led to the Setayash Gah. Reciting for him two Yatha and one Ashem were some XYZ members Ava Canteenwala, Janine Daruwalla, Behram Printer, Phiroz and Kainaz Contractor, under the supervision of Rozy Contractor.

He was then taken to the Donors Gallery where he interacted briefly with the donors, unveiled the photos of Khorshed Sodhi who, although married to a non-Parsi, has over the years donated £ 100,000 to the ZTFE and the late Capt Rusi Bahadurji, a former pilot in the Royal Air Force as also Tata Airlines and Britannia, whose bequest totalled £ 141,000.

Once the Duke had bid his adieu to the Zoroastrians it was Purnell who had to accompany His Highness to the car. The hall thereafter witnessed Deboo being garlanded and commended by the ladies of his team for fulfilling his responsibilities to the community.

Review of the Royal visit

On the official website of The British Monarchy, the court circular featuring the past engagements made a brief reference to the Duke’s visit to the Zoroastrian Centre.

After the thanksgiving maachi on October 8, 2011 at the setayash gah on the first floor, Deboo spoke for a couple of minutes, addressing his colleagues: "We had a great team and all played their parts. I have been blessed that three of my active predecessors on board (Jila, Mistry and Dalal) have supported me. You made us stand proud.”