Readers' Forum
WZC action committee
WZC action committee
The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (10WZC) held recently in Bombay was well organized barring a few hiccups of the auditorium doors not opening early to avoid crowding outside and the long queues at the food counters. Luckily for all, the rowdy elements were not present, so things ran pretty smoothly.
In hindsight, it could be said that the change in chairman and vice chairman to Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Nadir Godrej was for the good because with their tremendous resources, experience and maturity, the conference and entertainment programs were at a much higher level than they may have otherwise been. (The 10WZC program was set by the Organizing Committee. Poonawalla and Godrej kept things on track — editors)
A Congress of this magnitude is basically to enable our community from all over the world to meet and exchange views, which end was achieved. Actions, decisions and solutions cannot be expected from 1,155 people gathered together. It reminds me of the Federation of the Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meetings in India, where Parsis/Iranis from all over the country meet and exchange ideas and happenings, with few actions being possible and achievable.
Hopefully, a WZC action committee can be formed with eight to 10 community leaders from different parts of the world. Each member could head a small working subcommittee on each issue discussed here and initiate realistic time-bound actions on the major issues thrown up. They can take things forward by meetings/video-conferencing before the next Congress in Singapore where an "Action Taken” report can be projected at the outset.
The important issue of our diminishing numbers was given adequate exposure at the Congress. However, it would be asking too much of the powers that be to achieve any increase in our population at this stage. Let us be realistic and adopt a doable target of maintaining the present figures, i.e. deaths should be counter-balanced by births.
Cmde (Retd) JAL POSTWALLA
jalpostwalla@hotmail.com
The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (10WZC) held recently in Bombay was well organized barring a few hiccups of the auditorium doors not opening early to avoid crowding outside and the long queues at the food counters. Luckily for all, the rowdy elements were not present, so things ran pretty smoothly.
In hindsight, it could be said that the change in chairman and vice chairman to Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Nadir Godrej was for the good because with their tremendous resources, experience and maturity, the conference and entertainment programs were at a much higher level than they may have otherwise been. (The 10WZC program was set by the Organizing Committee. Poonawalla and Godrej kept things on track — editors)
A Congress of this magnitude is basically to enable our community from all over the world to meet and exchange views, which end was achieved. Actions, decisions and solutions cannot be expected from 1,155 people gathered together. It reminds me of the Federation of the Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meetings in India, where Parsis/Iranis from all over the country meet and exchange ideas and happenings, with few actions being possible and achievable.
Hopefully, a WZC action committee can be formed with eight to 10 community leaders from different parts of the world. Each member could head a small working subcommittee on each issue discussed here and initiate realistic time-bound actions on the major issues thrown up. They can take things forward by meetings/video-conferencing before the next Congress in Singapore where an "Action Taken” report can be projected at the outset.
The important issue of our diminishing numbers was given adequate exposure at the Congress. However, it would be asking too much of the powers that be to achieve any increase in our population at this stage. Let us be realistic and adopt a doable target of maintaining the present figures, i.e. deaths should be counter-balanced by births.
Cmde (Retd) JAL POSTWALLA
jalpostwalla@hotmail.com
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