New beginnings in New York

Despite the showers and grey skies, nearly 175 members of the New York Zoroastrian community and the surrounding neighborhood attended on March 29 the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony of the new Darbe Mehr in Pomona, perceived as a "beautiful and momentous occasion.” Six priests bearing ritual accompaniments like rose petals, rose water, cypress twigs, sés recited a brief prayer before laying a hermetically sealed box containing Zoroastrian artifacts in a specially dug pit. Thereafter members of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) and the Iranian Zoroastrian Association (IZA) taking shelter under a tent took turns with the spades to cover the depression with wet soil.

A benediction by the priests and ceremonial ground breaking ceremony in New York

"We feel truly blessed that you have decided to stay here,” stated Pomona mayor Brett Yagel at the indoor function at the current Darbe Mehr preceding the groundbreaking ceremony. He further reminded the audience that "good thoughts, words and deeds resonate in many religions.” The rain pattering in the background made him associate the upcoming project with the planting of seeds and fresh growth. The new structure that is expected to be ready in early 2016 will be on the same property as the current Darbe Mehr which will be demolished once its new avatar nears completion.
"We are here to stay… Let us rejoice from where we have come… Fourteen years ago when we moved from New Rochelle to Pomona, we had acknowledged…that we would need something bigger in the years to come,” said Gev Nentin when addressing the gathering in his last week as ZAGNY president. Happy to be in the midst of a "welcoming town and good neighbors,” Nentin announced that they had secured sanctions from the Township to launch their new project. Giving credit to the dedication of the members as also their willingness to loosen their purse strings, Nentin added, "Without your support this wouldn’t have been possible. Financially we are extremely close but not there yet,” he added referring to the Association’s persistent efforts to raise funds at every function.

Outgoing ZAGNY core team and model of new Darbe Mehr

IZA president Shirin Khosravi gave credit to "the leadership, foresight and planning” that helped the project move forward. She further appreciated that "big ideas define our hopes and dreams.”
On behalf of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), president Katayun Kapadia congratulated ZAGNY and IZA and wishing them "great success in your capital campaign,” hoped that they would "strive to fulfil their social and religious needs…in an environment of hamazori (unity).”
Thanking the technical team for relentlessly pursuing the "vision started in 2010 with 16 like-minded individuals,” Edul Daver who spearheads the New Darbe Mehr Initiative appreciated that what was once considered "improbable,” gradually became "probable,” then "likely,” and finally "definite.”
As against their target amount of $ 4.5 million, they have succeeded in raising $ 3.6 million to date. According to erstwhile joint secretary of ZAGNY Nina Mistry who has been monitoring the fundraising initiative, five philanthropists "have donated/pledged $ 200,000 and more and another five have donated/pledged $100,000-199,000, collectively amounting to approximately 40% of the (amount) raised to date.” Whilst these donors shall be entitled to naming rights for the smaller rooms, the naming rights for the main hall and prayer hall have been reserved for the prospective donors who contribute $ 300,000 and 400,000 respectively.
Contributions towards their fundraising drive have come from even children as recorded in the March 2014 newsletter of ZAGNY. Nina and Adil Mistry’s daughters, Adina and Maya initiated the First Kiddy Fundraiser, donating $ 175 through their bake sale to the Darbe Mehr. Using their frequent snow day breaks from school they baked goodies at home and decided to market their efforts at the next religion class. In the groundbreaking ceremony too the children were involved with some singing religious songs and others giving accompaniment on their string instruments.

Clockwise from top: Zubin Mehta, Dr Jamshed Bharucha, Jehangir Mehta, Dinyar Devitre, Navroz Udwadia,

sessions anchored by Shanaya Deboo and Anahaita Kotval

Over 200 members of the community signed up for the session on "The Power of Cultural Influences and Inspirations for Success” organized by ZAGNY as part of their ruby anniversary celebrations. The three-hour session on March 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Fredrick P. Rose Auditorium, The Cooper Union saw five "innovators, leaders and trailblazers” from the fields of music, academy, social change, culinary arts and finance share their stories of struggle and accomplishment, according to a report sent by ZAGNY committee member arZan Wadia.
The first panel discussion moderated by Shanaya Deboo saw participation from Navroz Udwadia, CEO and co-founder of Falcon Edge Capital, Jehangir Mehta, chef-owner of Graffiti, and Dinyar Devitre, chairman of Pratham USA. Referring to the challenges he faced when he left India at a young age, Udwadia stated that he strongly believed in the adage "learn, earn, return” where one learns in the first part of their lives, earns in the second part and returns back to society in the last part. Mehta referred to the trials he surmounted before establishing himself as a chef in a world-class gastronomic city, his decision to be eclectic in his cuisine and surpass expectations. Devitre reinforced that "luck is the child of preparation and opportunity,” and urged the audience to be prepared, work hard and be savvy so that success follows sooner or later. Urging the youth to focus on education, he noted that with sound training one is equipped to influence areas beyond one’s chosen field.
Following a question-answer session, the audience was served Parsi themed appetizers catered by Mehta’s restaurant.
In the second session anchored by Anahaita Kotval music conductor Zubin Mehta, co-chairman of the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation reminisced of his upbringing in a predominantly musical home in Bombay where good grades in school were a high priority. Rarely getting an opportunity to express himself in his mother tongue, he first started speaking in Gujarati. Dr Jamshed Bharucha revealed how his formative years in India instilled in him a deep appreciation of education and how as president of The Cooper Union he is now endeavoring to create new partnerships with Indian universities. The ability to remain serene and calm in the face of difficulty is a very Indian trait that has stood him in good stead throughout his professional life, he added.
As a mark of honor to its long-standing accountant and former FEZANA president Framroze Patel, ZAGNY has pledged to support the Surat Parsi Orphanage (SPO). Allocating $ 25,000 from its Critical Assistance Fund as seed money for the new Goolbai Kaikhushroo Patel Fund, all interest earned on this amount will be annually sent to the SPO with any additional funds ZAGNY may decide to contribute from time to time.
Steering the New York community through their 40th anniversary celebrations will be the new team elected on April 6, 2014. Under the presidentship of Astad Clubwala, the committee for 2014-17 will include vice president Khursheed Navder, treasurer Cyrus Pavri, secretary Zubin Dumasia, joint secretary Meherzeen Daruwala, with members at large Kerman Dukandar, Kayomarz Khambatta, Mayyar Noushi (Irani), Sam Shroff, Ervad Khushroo Vimadalal and Wadia. "The new board has a wonderful blend of young first-timers and seasoned veterans. We all look forward to serving the community,” conveyed Clubwala. In response to Parsiana’s request, Wadia collated a brief on each of the members:
Past president of ZAGNY who has also served as its treasurer and trustee of the Darbe Mehr, Clubwala is additionally the hereditary trustee of the Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar-E-Meher in Madras. Professionally he is a consultant at UNICEF’s Ethics Office and his family includes wife Behroze, daughter Tenaz and son Neville. Navder has served on the ZAGNY board for the last nine years and is professor and director of the Nutrition Program in the City University of New York School of Public Health at Hunter College. She and her husband Shailendra Dusaj have raised their children Neville and Natasha as proud ‘Zoroindus’ (Zoroastrian/Hindus).
Pavri comes on board with a background in financial accounting. A chartered accountant from India he has been associated with ZAGNY since his migration to New York seven years ago with his wife Yasmin and children Farah and Porus. He is currently working with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Dumasia had earlier served as a board member and youth representative for the Zarthoshti Anjuman of Northern California (ZANC). Presently he works as a senior systems analyst in Identity and Access Management domain for Yale University. He resides with his wife Rashna and son Hormazd in Shelton, Connecticut. Daruwala has served on the ZAGNY board for the past three years. She works as a finance manager at Frontier Communications and resides in New York with husband Darius and daughter Carina.
Former joint secretary and treasurer of ZAGNY, Dukandar as also his wife Jasely, and daughters Jasmine and Tina have been active with ZAGNY since a decade. He is a technology manager at Lummus Technology. Khambatta has been a ZAGNY member for over two decades and resides in New Jersey with wife Goolcher and sons, Ervads Poruz and Karl. He works as chief financial officer for Harout R Group (Division of Kiran Group), a jewelry company based in New Jersey. Noushi (Irani) has been a ZAGNY member since his childhood and currently resides in Pennsylvania with wife Sarfaraz and son Zubin. He is employed with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as a state regulator. Shroff is employed with ITN Networks, a national media buying service in New York City. He resides in New Jersey with wife Zarine and two children Cyrus and Zarah. Vimadalal is a Master Mariner and a maritime consultant. Married to Parynaz, they have two sons Freyaan and Darien. Wadia is serving his third term as board member of ZAGNY, runs Parsi Khabar (www.parsikhabar.net), an online portal on Parsis, and is part of the Technology Committee of FEZANA. Residing in New York City with wife Shirrin, he practices as an architect and urban designer.