Newsworthy nexus

"They needed a voice and MediaGlobal News is their voice,” believes Naosher­wan (Nosh) Nalavala, founder and executive director of the six-year-old international media organization that has with the support of the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) been focusing on social justice and development issues in the world’s least developed countries. A few months ago MediaGlobal News was conferred the Prince Albert II Foundation Silver Medal and the United Nations Correspondents Association Award for their coverage on climate change issues in small island developing countries. Nalavala who received the honor at the hands of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon conveyed to Parsiana that following this recognition they decided to launch an online publication Unearth News Journal on the impact of climate change on developing countries that was expected to be operational by the end of May. MediaGlobal News already edits and publishes The Commitment for the UN and South-South in Action for the UNDP.

"After working for over 10 years for the UN and their development program I felt the need to create awareness in the global media and amongst parliamentarians, decision makers, leaders of developed and developing countries, and socially conscious citizens, about the constraints of the world’s poorest countries, specially the least developed countries and small island developing states,” Nalavala explains the genesis of his organization.

Ban Ki-moon (left) presenting silver medal to Naosher­wan Nalavala

"I always felt that if a billion people around the world live in extreme poverty – 70 percent in sub-Saharan Africa survive on less than one dollar a day – turning global attention to the less fortunate would be a worthwhile purpose,” Nalavala had commented recalling the compliments and scepticism he had received when Media­Global News was launched to highlight issues of economic development, global health, food security, environment and earth changes.

"I feel very strongly that the Zoroastrian community should be actively engaged in development issues, especially when it comes to environment issues. Climate change is a major threat to global stability and poses the greatest challenge to the world’s poorest countries,” stressed Nalavala, pointing out, "Today all faiths are coming together to influence environmental policy and Zoroastrians must participate in this pro­cess…Sustainable development is a major challenge for all countries, whatever their level of development and current greenhouse gas emissions. New policies, technologies and sources of finance all need to be mobilized and backed by new levels of political commitment – locally, nationally and internationally.”

Born and educated in Dehra Dun, Nalavala completed his post-graduation in English literature and has over 35 years of experience in communications and over 13 years in the field of development. Before joining the UN he had worked for 15 years as deputy public relations manager at Air-India and was later associated with the Taj Group of Hotels in New York as their director of public relations and marketing. He has been given credit for conducting advocacy and communications campaigns on issues of poverty, HIV/AIDS and debt relief for 49 countries considered vulnerable by the UN. As officer overseeing global media communications he incorporated campaign messages and themes into all relevant events and programs conducted by the UNDP, DESA (Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and other UN agencies.

His wife Mahrukh recently retired as finance officer of the UNDP and is treasurer of Glow International, a journal devoted to Meher Baba’s message for the last 46 years. His 92-year-old mother Freiny now lives in Bangalore after the passing away of her husband Kaikobad who had served the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Dehra Dun. "Both my parents dedicated themselves to serving Meher Baba during the Master’s lifetime and my mother continues to do so,” being the consulting editor for Glow International. Naosher­wan too has been a follower of Meher Baba since birth and editor of Glow International since its inception in 1966. Author of The Beloved: Life and Works of Meher Baba and other books Nao­sherwan has adopted the nom de plume of Anzar "which is the plural of nazar (sight) when I started writing and reciting ghazals and participating in mushairas while studying in Dehra Dun,” he explains.

Although he may not wear the sudreh-kusti Nalavala feels "very strongly that Avestic prayers must be translated in as many languages as one can so that Zoroaster’s message conveyed, especially through the Gathas, is understood and imbibed.” To him, Meher Baba is "the same ancient one as Zoroaster, Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Moham­med…He has come in our midst not to teach but to awaken mankind to God-consciousness. Today thousands of Zoroastrians, particularly those living in Iran have come to recognize Meher Baba’s divinity and visit Mehera­bad near Ahmednagar to learn about his life and teachings.” Beloved Archives was established in Hamilton, New Jersey last year as a non-denominational, non-profit center open to people of all faiths who wish to learn more about Meher Baba.