"Toronto professorship"

The pandemic having thrown the original plans of raising USD 1.5 million (Rs 1,108 lakh) by April 2020 into disarray (see "Toronto professorship," Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, August 7-20, 2020), as per the new agreement with UoT, the community needs to raise USD 1.1 million (Rs 813 lakh) by April 30, 2021. Once funds are transferred to the University, they will match an equivalent amount in Canadian dollars up to a maximum of CAD 1.5 million (Rs 863 lakh) and create an endowment fund in perpetuity in support of the Professorship.

Currently Zoroastrians have raised a total of USD 820,000 (Rs 606 lakh) in cash and pledges, with an additional conditional pledge of USD 50,000 (Rs 37 lakh) to match the last USD 50,000. "If you want to give a gift to your children, grandchildren and future generations, then please consider giving them this gift, to have the opportunity to study the ancient language and literature of their own religion. Our collective action of generosity right now will make that learning opportunity a possibility for our future generations," noted an earlier appeal from the FEZANA Interfaith Activities Committee.

"Currently there is no endowed position in Zoroastrian studies at an institution of higher learning in North America," noted the website of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) that accepts donations from Canadian donors while FEZANA receives donations from those in the US. A program in perpetuity is meant to ensure continuity of research and teaching of Zoroastrianism at an institution of higher learning. "UoT has assembled the largest faculty on Iranian studies … and has already created a new position to teach courses on Introduction to Zoroastrianism," according to the ZSO website.