Passing of the baton

During his two-year term as president of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) Daraius Bharucha plans to successfully complete the new Darbe Mehr project, host the Z-Games for Zoroastrian youth in 2012 and promote harmony by being "a bridge builder and goodwill ambassador,” it was reported in the Fall 2011 issue of FEZANA Journal, the quarterly publication of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA).

Darius Bharucha (left) and Sam Vesuna: ZSO ambassadors

Active in the ZSO for the last decade and a half, he has accepted different leadership roles including chair of the Religious Education Committee, the 2012 North American Z-Games and FEZANA North American Congress Committee, according to the FEZANA Journal update. Besides being a lecturer and teacher of religion he has co-authored and co-edited two publications on Zoroastrianism and is a regular contributor and panel expert on Insight, a Miracle Channel television network show that examines current issues from a religious and a cultural perspective.
By profession the former master mariner now works as a high school history teacher with the York Region District School. Having graduated in arts with specialized honors in religious studies, he subsequently completed his BEd earning several awards for academic excellence, religious studies and voluntary work.
The presidential baton was passed from Sam Vesuna to Bharucha at the 40th annual general meeting in July last year. Besides Bharucha and Vesuna the others who are serving the ZSO executive committee for 2011-12 are vice president Mehroo Chothia, executive vice president Kevin Mancherjee, secretary Meher Irani, assistant secretary Anahita Ogra, treasurer Fram Sethna, assistant treasurer Jamshed Kershaw and executive officer Khusru Chothia. As acknowledged in a note prepared by ZSO member Putli Mirza with the assistance of some ZSO and FEZANA members, "The success of ZSO lies in its volunteers and the presidents and executive committees. We have 19 subcommittees and all of these committees are held together by the president and the executive members.”
Welcoming Bharucha to the new post and wishing him success "in this great challenge that he has undertaken,” Mirza’s write-up mentions that Vesuna was at the helm for the last 11 years. During his last 41 years in Canada Vesuna has additionally served the ZSO as treasurer, executive officer, chair of the investment committee and during the annual audit period he would spend time at the Darbe Mehr from morning to almost midnight, ensuring that receipts and accounts were readily available to the auditors. An active member of the long-term planning committee, he was additionally co-chair of the Building Project Committee entrusted with the mandate to rebuild the new Darbe Mehr at the present site when he was required to coordinate with the architect, consultants and city department officials. His greatest legacy to the Ontario community though is the promotion of harmony between the Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrians, states Mickie Katgara.
To Vesuna has been given credit for being instrumental in buying a scattering ground which was donated by Coomi Bhathena and reserving some burial plots for the Zoroastrians of Ontario. For support for the religious education classes as also the annual muktads, gahanbars and jashans the community depended on him. When busloads of children would visit the Darbe Mehr during weekdays it was frequently Vesuna who would give them a tour of the premises whilst explaining the main tenets of the religion. Well respected among interfaith members, he is the ZSO representative on Toronto Area Interfaith Committee (TAIC) as well as MOSAIC Interfaith, a gathering of communities for interfaith dialog, along with others like Ervad (Dr) Jehan Bagli, Freddy Mirza, Bharucha and the late Ervad Yazdi Antia.
Very active in FEZANA since its inception, he was amongst those who reviewed the first draft of the FEZANA constitution and an active contributor that led to the finalization of the constitution and subsequent registration of FEZANA on June 2, 1987. "Sam has probably attended every FEZANA AGM (annual general meeting) over the last 25 years and has lent his wisdom, experience and commitment to the Zarathushti cause at every step of the way through various contentious issues and in setting future direction for Zarathushtis in North America,” notes the write-up. To see leaders of world Zarathushti regions coming together in a common forum he was among those who has participated actively in the Global Working Group.
For community members new to Toronto it is often Vesuna who meets them at the airport and arranges accommodation and transportation for them until they have settled down. So too at the North American Zoroastrian Congress in 2007, it was Vesuna who would go to the airport to receive visiting speakers and provide them hospitality. Ever generous he has raised money for the deserving in India, Iran, Canada and other places, acknowledges Diana Katgara, chairperson of the Helping Hands subcommittee.