Royal reflections

"We will always remember Her Majesty for her sense of duty and her lifelong commitment to public service when we all saw the Queen publicly for the last time, with her trademark beaming smile but extremely frail, welcoming Liz Truss as her 15th prime minister on September 6, 2022,” noted a communique from Malcolm Deboo, president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE). Two days later, the nation was mourning their 96-year-old monarch, Queen Elizabeth II who died peacefully at Balmoral after a record reign of over 70 years.

Funeral procession Photo: Wikipedia

"Many Zoroastrians immigrated to the UK (United Kingdom) at the start of (her) reign... We are part of the second Elizabethan era. Not only did we witness an extraordinary transformation, but we contributed to the change by transforming the UK to a pluralistic, multicultural, multireligious, interfaith country, which has benefited the majority and minority communities including us Zoroastrians tremendously...” acknowledged Deboo.
Representatives of ZTFE attending a function at Lambeth Palace in February 2012 to mark the diamond jubilee of her accession to the throne well recalled her statement as Supreme Governor of the Church of England that while the Church was woven into "the fabric of this country… it has created an environment for other faith communities and indeed people of no faith to live freely.” Those present saw this as an official endorsement of the freedom of religious practice in the UK.
"Since the 1990s successive ZTFE presidents have been invited to Buckingham Palace as well as to represent the Zoroastrian community at various services of state where they have been privileged and honored to be introduced to the Queen and the Royal family. In 2002 and 2011 members of the Royal family accepted ZTFE’s invitation to attend services of thanksgiving at the Zoroastrian Centre,” wrote Deboo. In 2002, it was her son, Prince Edward and his wife Countess Sophie, and in 2011 it was her husband Prince Philip who graced the sesquicentennial celebrations of ZTFE.
A service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen followed by a benediction for her successor King Charles III were organized by ZTFE at the Zoroastrian Centre in Harrow on September 17. ZTFE patron Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea, Sir Rohinton Kalifa, OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), past ZTFE presidents and others shared reminiscences of their interactions with the Queen and members of the Royal family.
As summed up Deboo, "Her Majesty used her position for good, serving the nation through tireless visits to various charities and organizations that serve the wider community and the most vulnerable.”

Lasting impression
"Some of my earliest memories going back to my childhood are of seeing photographs, which are in our house in India to this day, of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their state visit to India in 1961, when Rajendra Prasad was the President of India and my father (Lt Gen Faridoon Bilimoria), at that time Capt Bilimoria, was the senior ADC (aide-de-camp) to the President of India,” stated Bilimoria.
Describing her as "the most priceless asset our country has had,” Bilimoria noted that as head of the Commonwealth of 56 countries, she was "the leader of this array of nations — from giants such as India with its 1.4 billion people to tiny Caribbean countries — making up a third of the world’s population.” Viewing her as "apolitical, objective and completely independent,” he stated, "She cared for Great Britain and for Northern Ireland; she cared for the Commonwealth.”

Ervad Yazad Bhadha (2^nd from r) leads priests at the commemoration service for Queen Elizabeth II (above)

He further made reference to her legendary stamina: "This year, I was proud to be a member of the committee at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Her Majesty always came to attend the final night, but that night we were warned: ‘She may not come and if she does, she may come only for a few minutes. She has not been well.’ We were all seated at 8 p.m. when she walked in, on time for the show to start. She stayed the full two hours — clapping, smiling, laughing and enjoying every minute… She then got into the Range Rover and did a whole lap of the arena, waving to everyone who was there. She left after 11 p.m.”
Bilimoria further remembered accompanying Prince Philip when he came to the Zoroastrian Centre in 2011. After a visit to the prayer room, they were sitting next to each other, tying their shoelaces when the Prince said to Bilimoria, "‘Do you know, I’ve had these shoes since the day I got married (November 20, 1947)?’ Such was the sentimentality between this couple…”
Recalling his first interaction with the Queen in 1994 at the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey, then ZTFE president Rusi Dalal remarked, "It was not what was said or spoken but her simplicity and ease of conversation that impressed me most. Her keen sense of interest and above all, her handshake and gaze, looking straight into my eyes, standing inches away from me, put me at ease. Being with the monarch even for a short moment of time, representing the Zoroastrians, has aroused an everlasting confidence in me to serve my people and the country of our abode.” Thereafter he had several other opportunities to meet the Queen at the Abbey, at her Garden Party, at walkabouts at Windsor…
Yet another former ZTFE president Dorab Mistry had memories of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Queen’s reign in 2002 when there were eight Zoroastrians at the same time at Buckingham Palace. "The generosity and welcoming nature of the Royal family” had left a permanent imprint on them all. "We as a minority have a right to be patriotic, we have a right to prosper…” Mistry has been impressing upon his friends in the UK.
The Queen having estimated to have shaken over three million hands, Kalifa recalled their conversation, her facial expressions and gesticulation when he was presented with the OBE honor by the Queen in 2018. She had expressed an interest in his work as chairman of Network International and earlier as chief executive officer of the Worldpay Group. Not comfortable with technology enabled payments, she told him that remembering a PIN (personal identification number) was cumbersome. She then offered to share a secret by divulging her PIN. Though not sure of its accuracy, to Kalifa this exchange represented "the Queen’s humor and her style.” She seemed to understand that people may forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
For chef Cyrus Todiwala who is known to have built up the Café Spice Namaste brand, "the greatest honor and privilege” was accorded to him and his wife Pervin when they were asked to organize the Queen’s first diamond jubilee luncheon at The Town Hall in Waltham Forest in 2012. Being sworn to secrecy, they had to operate with only those select hands they could trust fully. Among the challenges they faced that day was the arrival of the Royal entourage 40 minutes ahead of time and meeting every member of the team that had helped put the lunch together, throwing their schedule out of gear… Known to do "amazing homework” ahead of every visit, their "time, effort, energy, understanding” is unsurpassed by anyone else in the nation, felt Cyrus whose message was read out by Behram Kapadia.
UK chapter chair of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, Shernaz Engineer mentioned that she never ceased to be astonished by the Queen’s "knowledge and amazing memory… She had an aura about her as though she was anointed by a divine wand.” Being introduced to the Queen at a Harrow interfaith meet when he was ZTFE treasurer, Rohinton Munshi recalled the Queen enquiring, "Treasurer, what do you have to treasure?”
Erstwhile Harrow councillor and Greater London Assembly Member Navin Shah, British Army Warrant Officer Ashok-Kumar Chauhan and Harmander Singh, founder member of Faiths Forum for London, represented sister communities at the ZTFE memorial meet.
The evening started with four Zoroastrian priests led by ZTFE resident priest Ervad Yazad Bhadha praying for the progress of all righteous souls and ended with their benediction for the well-being of King Charles III and all members of the Royal household. The congregation then sang the national anthem, God Save The King.

"To preserve and promote”
A day prior to the ZTFE memorial meet, King Charles III had convened a meeting with representatives of different religious denominations "to confirm my determination to carry out my responsibilities as Sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live.”
As he conveyed to his select audience that included Deboo, "I have always thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities.’ That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty — less formally recognized but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals. This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore — as well as by my position as Sovereign — I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.
"The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood. I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.

Malcolm Deboo (top l) with King Charles III and (above, far r) with other faith leaders Photos: Buckingham Palace

"This conviction was the foundation of everything my beloved mother did for our country, over her years as our Queen. It has been the foundation of my own work as Prince of Wales. It will continue to be the foundation of all my work as King.”
Three days later at the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth on September 19, Deboo was privileged to be among the select leaders of all faiths invited to Westminster Abbey. For the state funeral that commenced at 11 a.m., guests were expected to follow instructions containing "critical guidance.” Guests attired in morning coat or lounge suit or national dress were to arrive at the accreditation area bearing the invite card and two forms of identification from 8 to 9.20 a.m. and be seated in the congregation area by 9.30. While no photography was permitted inside the Abbey, from the media coverage on television channels, images had been captured of Deboo, attired in his dagli and pugree, seated alongside other faith representatives. From 9.45 a.m. arrived the heads of state and overseas government representatives, British government officers and members of the Royal families. The guests were directed to vacate their seats at 12.30 p.m. after the service ended.