Vibrant in Wembley

To witness "the most spectacular celebration of British-India relations,” guests at the Wembley Stadium in London cheerfully braved the biting cold and tight security. During the evening program "UK Welcomes Modi — Two great nations, one glorious future,” on November 13, 2015 the Prime Minister of UK David Cameron lauded the British Indians for "putting the great into Great Britain” and commented that the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was standing before "the biggest gathering of the Indian diaspora he has ever addressed.”

According to a report in The Telegraph, 60,157 people had secured tickets for the event. Among the British Indians who were celebrating their dual identities were several Zoroastrians who had registered for free invitations through the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) that was recognized as one of the 414 welcome partners. "As the oldest Indian religious voluntary organization in the UK, the ZTFE was invited by the Europe India Forum to become a welcome partner,” explained ZTFE president Malcolm Deboo in response to Parsiana’s queries. Being a welcome partner that had made a suitable donation, ZTFE was allocated 300 tickets for its members and well-wishers. All welcome partners were given first priority for booking free online tickets. "For security purposes, the ZTFE had to provide reference for all who applied,” wrote Deboo who was privileged to receive a VIP ticket for the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium, seated behind the High Commissioner of India Ranjan Mathai.
The nearly three-hour program started with a percussion item by British Indian musicians, dressed in kilts, playing bagpipes and drums. Singers and dancers showcasing the talent in the Indian diaspora kept the audience entertained for nearly one and a half hours. Even Shiamak Davar’s dancers, attired in saffron, white and green, performed an item on the tune of Vande Mataram.
In his speech in Hindi lasting over an hour Modi thanked the gathering for making it a "historic day” and mentioned that these two nations are the only ones in the world where the time can be seen in each other’s country by merely rotating the watch by 90º. With his 18 months of experience as prime minister he was convinced the world is looking to India with hope: "We don’t want meherbani (favors), but barabari (equality).”
When he mentioned that "Tata was the largest industrial employer in the UK, the audience clapped which as a Zoroastrian of Indian origin made me feel proud,” revealed Deboo. In the last half hour, Modi walked around the stadium waving continuously at the spectators. He looked "as excited and happy to see this crowd of people as they were to see him,” wrote Dinoo Medhora who had gone with her husband and daughter two hours ahead of the start of the show to secure the best seats.
When the ZTFE members were invited to share their views, Dr Roshan Dalal wrote, "The bitter cold somewhat marred the thrill and atmosphere of an excellent spectacle… Modi excelled himself and made many promises. Hope he will be able to keep them…” Gul Billimoria who found the experience "very exciting and exhilarating” wished the event managers had used the wide screen in the middle to show the entire stage instead of relying only on the side panels. Keen to preserve these memories, Homi Keravala hoped the organizers will make DVDs which people like him could purchase.
"The Indian community is the largest and most successful of the ethnic communities in Britain, numbering 1.5 million and his address to us was nothing short of inspirational,” commented Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea who was among the 1,000 invitees invited by Mathai at a subsequent dinner. The other Zoroastrian presence at the dinner included solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla, Deboo and former ZTFE vice president Faroukh Sorab. Bilimoria additionally attended Modi’s speech in Parliament a day prior as did Deboo. He also met Modi at a reception in the House of Lords and another event hosted by the Mayor in the Guildhall.
"This was the first time that a serving Indian Prime Minister had ever addressed both Houses of Parliament in Westminster, and that too, in the Royal Gallery and he used the occasion to emphasize very clearly how important the UK-India relationship was to him and to India… It sent a confident message that UK’s future in partnership with India is entrusted to a welcoming nation, a powerful leader and a secure economy,” observed Bilimoria.

The Zoroastrian contingent present at the Wembley event was responding to the invite issued by Mathai when he had come as chief guest at ZTFE’s 109th Parsi New Year celebrations on August 18 at the Zoroastrian Centre, Harrow. Mathai had then commented, "The Prime Minister will be coming to the UK and we want to develop strong business, scientific and political relationships with this country… I am sure the Zoroastrians will play an important part in creating a new India… Here in the UK you have carved out an important place for yourself in the hearts of British society, from Dadabhai Naoroji to Freddie Mercury to the Tatas… The symbolic importance of maintaining cultural and spiritual identity while remaining faithful citizens of a new country is a feat achieved by the Parsis successfully.” The Parsi community’s "greatest achievement,” according to Mathai, was being "known as India’s greatest philanthropists with a reputation for caring and sharing.”
Also present at the New Year function was Dr David Lansman, executive director of Tata Limited UK who reminded, "Tata’s presence in the UK is now quite substantial, responsible for the livelihoods of over 60,000 people in the country through a number of well-known companies. Of course, Tata is proud of its Indian heritage. But in the UK we like to behave as a British business, as ‘part of the economic furniture.’”
The day’s guests were then shown photos of the first ZTFE Navroz celebration in London in 1906 at the famous Criterion Restaurant which was attended by then ZTFE president Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree, Bhikaiji Cama and Mohandas Gandhi.
Earlier in his welcome address Deboo thanked the Government of India for sponsoring to the tune of Rs 15 crores "The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination” exhibition program in New Delhi from March till May 2016. He commended the largesse of the members and well-wishers of ZTFE for donating the initial £ 100,000 to the School of Oriental and African Studies in London to core fund in 2013 the exhibition.
Bilimoria, a ZTFE patron, had observed at the New Year celebrations, "People always respect the Parsi community not just for our achievements but also for the way in which it achieves — with the right values and always with compassion and always putting back into our community and into the wider community in which we live.”
Almost a month later, from September 15 to 20, Bilimoria had an opportunity to interact with the Dalai Lama when the latter delivered public lectures in Oxford, Cambridge and London. Conveying the highlights of their meeting, Bilimoria stated, "I was proud of how much respect his Holiness had for the Zoroastrian Parsi community.” He further quoted the Dalai Lama as stating that Zoroastrianism is the oldest religion in the world and the small Parsi community fearlessly makes an amazing contribution. For Bilimoria, the ties with the Dalai Lama ran deeper, from the time his father Lt Gen Faridoon Bilimoria was commander in chief of the Central Indian Army headquartered in Lucknow and Dharamshala (where the Dalai Lama is based). His parents frequently visited and met his Holiness on a number of occasions.