PARZOR TIMELINE

Founder President
Lt.Gen A. M. Sethna
1924-2006

[Reverse Order]

2010

• August 2010: Parzor Foundation was grieved to hear about the passing away of our senior-most patron, Mr. Jamshed N. Guzder. Mr. Guzder was our Founder Patron and our first donor. [Read more]
  
• Navroze UN Declaration: The United Nations General Assembly has recognized the International Day of Nowruz as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. [Read more]

• On Navroze, the Spring New Year of the Parsi community: On Navroze, the Spring New Year of the Parsi community, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President of the All India Congress Committee, greeted the Parsi community in a special message. Click here to read her message.

2009

• Summer 2009: Parzor has been instrumental in bringing the Meherjirana Library, Navsari to the notice of the world. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust very kindly donated the funds to create a new building next to the Library. Besides housing Manuscripts, this space will provide a seminar room, a Reading Room, a Laboratory for conservation and rooms for visting Scholars to live in while working at the Library. [Read more]
  

2008

• December 2008: The Parzor Health and Demographic Studies have been concluded. A Seminar was held at the Y.B. Chavan Centre, Mumbai 13th & 14th December 2008 where presentations were made by all the researchers before an interested audience. Eminent medical doctors, sociologists and scientists c haired the sessions at this International Seminar. [Read more]

Executive Council Member Mrs. Khorshed Sethna 1928-2007

• Winter 2008: Parzor Crafts is the revival branch of the Textile Research Module. We are happy the announce that UNESCO, after a rigorous selection process chose one of our Hand Embroidered stoles for the Seal of Excellence Award for Year 2008. Parzor crafts was competing with over 180 countries. [Read more]
  

2007

• December 2007: Parzor lost its Executive Council Member Mrs. Khorshed Sethna. Without her contribution over the past decade the Textile Module could not have begun. Her generosity in sharing her invaluable collection with Parzor enabled the first documentation of Parsi embroidery. Her contribution in translating from Gujarati both for the Reet Rivaj questionnaire and for the Parsi Theatre Catalogue was a notable form of assistance to the Parzor Project. [Read more]
  

• October 2007: We have also lost one of our Patrons Dr. L.M. Singhvi. Dr. Singhvi had worked to further the cause of the Parsis and Parzor at several levels particularly with the Government and with UNESCO Head Quarters. His guidance will be missed.

• Summer 2007: Parzor Coordinated the visit of High Priest Dastur Dr. Kotwal to Delhi. He delivered the Tattvabodha Lecture at IIC on the request of the National Manuscript Mission the session was Chaired by eminent jurist Mr. Fali Nariman. [Read more]
  An interview with him was published in the NMM magazine Kriti Rakshna. Click here

2006

• December 2006: Parzor Conducted the Delhi Textile Workshop with help from the Delhi Parsi Anjuman. Craftsmen from several parts of India were trained in the art of Parsi Embroidery. [Read more]
  
  
• October 2006: Lt.Gen A.M. Sethna (PVSM, AVSM), Padma Bhushan, Founder president of the Parzor foundation, passes away on the 17th of October 2006. Click here to read "The Inspirational Commandant", an article in memoriam published in Parsiana magazine. Click here to read the condolence resolution passed by the Executive Council of the Parzor foundation on 2nd January 2007.
  
  
• February 2006: A retrospective exhibition of some of Homai's specially selected photographs was mounted at the Lalit Kala Akademi's Gallery from February 25th to March 3rd coincide with the launch of UNESCO PARZOR Foundation book “India in Focus – Camera Chronicles of Homai Vyarawalla”, authored by Sabeena Gadihoke at the same venue.
  Click here to read more about and purchase the book.
  Click here to read more about the exhibition and book release.
  
  
• January 2006: The second Parzor Embroidery Module took place in Navsari. Navsari with its sizeable Parsi population was ideal, as the craft would be introduced to the women of the community. The workshop was conducted at Jamshed Baugh, Navsari. Mr. Ashdeen Lilaowala was the workshop coordinator and was aided by Mrs. Ava Khullar, textile expert and Ms Rohini Sakhalkar. Other participants were Mrs Zenobia Davar, Ms Shireen Bhesania, Mr Asif Sheikh, textile designer from Ahmedabad and Ms Carmen Fernandes, Head Designer, SEWA. Click here to read more.
  
  
• January 2006: PARZOR research within India and neighboring countries has confirmed the closely bound strands of our old civilization and culture. It has, however, been found that many aspects of this culture are in the danger of being lost to humanity forever. In that context, Dr. B.N. Goswamy the world renowned art historian, suggested that the PARZOR Foundation should examine some of the ancient musical forms which are in danger of being lost. One such art form was the Tappa. Click here to learn more about what PARZOR is doing to preserve this art-form.
  

2005

• August 2005: With the assistance of the DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, the Parzor project held this first weeklong workshop on Parsi embroidery and textiles at Kankaria Zoroastrian Hall, Ahmedabad from the 1st of August onwards. Mr. Ashdeen Lilaowala, helped by Mrs. Swasti Ghai with the guidance of Parzor textile consultants Mrs. Villoo Mirza and Mrs. Ava Khullar, conducted it. Participants included Parsi entrepreneur and designer Zenobia Davar and Ms. Parizad Vajifdar of Mumbai, Mrs. Roshan Rustam Rao and Mrs. Dolly Bhesania, Ms. Dilshad Wadia, Ms. Shireen Bhesania, Mrs. Yasmin Patel of Ahmedabad, Mrs. Roshan Baman Cama of Vadodara among others. [Read more]
  
  
• July 2005: To read Prof. Armaity Desai's article (published in FEZANA) on "Addressing Population Concerns and Community Responses", click here.(DOC format) (Note: If you'd like to download the presentation instead of opening it directly right-Click over the link and chose 'Save Target As....')


• April 2005: For details about help available for infertility cases, click here. If you would like to view a presentation by Dr.Anahita Pandol on the problem of infertility, click here

• January 2005: Dr.Shernaz Cama's paper on "Parzor Preservation of the Meherjirana Library" was read at the 13th North American Zoroastrian Congress in San Jose, California on Friday the 31st of December, 2004. To read the paper and get the latest updates on the preservation of this invaluable heritage Click here.

2004

• December 2004: Following the tabulations of the 2001 census for the minorities, the Government of India has constituted a special team to assist the minorities in understanding the issues that the census data has revealed. The National Commission for Minorities met members of the Parsi community in an interactive session on 4th December at Mumbai. The Parzor demographic team headed by Prof.Armaiti Desai made presentations at this meeting.
  Click here to view the presentation made by Prof. Ashish Bose and his team in Mumbai. (Note: If you'd like to download the presentation instead of opening it directly, right-click on the link and chose 'Save Target As')
  

• November 2004 - The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has decided to enter a multi-national candidature file on behalf of all countries celebrating Navroz for the THIRD PROCLAMATION OF THE MASTERPIECES OF ORAL AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF HUMANITY. A seminar was held in July at Tehran where delegates from various Central Asian countries presented papers on their celebration of the festival. The Indian Government requested Dr.Shernaz Cama of Parzor to represent India in the preparation of the file. Dr.Mehrbanoo Bakhtiary participated in the diliberations and read Dr.Cama's paper at the meeting. Further to this Parzor has prepared the Indian Canditature file with photographs, an Audio CD, and full documentation. This has been submitted through the Indian National Commission For Co-operation With UNESCO and we await the results. Click here for the introductory speech by Dr. Cama which was read out at the Tehran conference.
  

• October 2004 - PARZOR has compiled a full list of the play scripts donated by the Calcutta Amatuer Dramatics Club(CADC) when Parzor visited Calcutta. These represent 100 years of Parsi theatre performed regularly by the CADC. Mr.Noshir Gherda, who played an active role in the CADC, including acting as a beautiful lady, took the Parzor team to visit the CADC premises which have become neglected over time. CADC, which is planning to shift out of these building requested Parzor to preserve their collection of Parsi Theatre items for posterity. Click here for the list of plays. We invite researchers to explore the fascinating world of Parsi theatre which pioneered the modern theatre movement in India.
  

• August 2004 - Preservation work at Meherjirana Library, Navsari : Reports have now been received and plans are being finalized for the on-site Conservation Programme at the Meherjirana Library. Parzor had taken a team from NRLC (National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property, Lucknow) as well as from the Iranian Conservation Centre, New Delhi to Navsari in April 04. The team members made detailed studies during their visit. They have now submitted their reports and we request financial support urgently from you to assist us in implementation of this major project. Read More about the Meherjirana Library work.
  

• May 2004: The auditorium of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Nilgiris was packed with officers from all over the world for the screening of "In War & Peace- The Life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw MC" Gen Sethna President Parzor Foundation introduced the film and answered questions from the audience.
  

• Summer 2004: The Demographic and Health module project work is on in full swing. In April 04 a meeting was organized at TISS (Tata Institute of Social Work) with Advisors from Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai present. In June 04 Prof Armaity Desai along with the team made a presentation at the executive Council Meeting of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India on the Demographic module and sensitized the representatives of the Anjumans about the importance of their co-operation in the gathering of data for this module. The data collection is now being carried out in Mumbai, as well as other towns and also rural areas. Areas where work has been initiated range from Mumbai and Vadodara (Baroda) to Navsari, Bardoli, and Gandevi etc. [Read more]
  

• January 2004: 52 Chowringhee Road became the focal point of the Kolkata Celebrations of 3000th Anniversary Celebrations of Zoroastrian Culture from 24-25 January 2004. H.E. Shri Viren J. Shah, Governor of West Bengal, the Chief Guest, released the film "Asha: The Law of Harmony". The spirit of volunteerism was visible from the moment one reached the Olpadwala Hall. The Kolkata Parsis hosted the PARZOR celebrations in a Parsi ambience with volunteers assisting and helping in every way possible. [Read More]
  

• The film "Asha -The law of Harmony" has now been produced in VCD format on popular demand. The same VCD also carries the film "Glimpses". This VCD is now available for from PARZOR [Read More]
  

2003

• October 2003: The 2nd of October found the UNESCO Parzor team at the NCPA, Mumbai. Sri Mohd. Fazal, the Governor of Maharashtra, inaugurated the exhibition. In the beautiful ceremony with school children of the Avabai Petit High School singing a Monajat of blessing, the Governor released a book on Dadabhai Naoroji, the 'Grand old man of India', and Shri Jaswant Singh, the Finance Minister of India, released a 5-rupee coin commemorating the veteran leader. [Read More]
  

• July 2003: The Parzor Foundation, set up as a response to the need for sustainable research and documentation generated by the project, produced a three-day exhibition entitled "Pictures with a Purpose", at the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi from 8-10 July 2001. The exhibition commemorated the recognition of 3000 years of Zoroastrian culture by UNESCO, and flagged off a two-day international conference on 'Dialogue among Civilisations' hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. [Read More]
  

• May 2003: The film 'In War and Peace' , a documentary of the life of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and 'Asha - The law of harmony', a short film, were screened at the IIC, Delhi on May 10th. This was followed by a traditional Parsi dinner catered by Mrs. Bhicoo Manekshaw.
  

• April 2003: In a function on April 3rd organised by PARZOR, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was felicitated on the day he entered his 90th year by the release of the film 'In War and Peace', a film on the life of the Field Marshal. The celebration was attended by a number of distinguished persons including Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes , Tourism Minister Shri Jagmohan the three Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces as well as numerous retired war heroes and several former Service Chiefs. [Read More]
  

• January 2003: UNESCO celebrates 'The 3000th Anniversary of Zoroastrianism' throughout the year 2003. At the 161st Executive Board Meeting and the following General Council UNESCO decided to request all member states to celebrate this historic occasion in a befitting manner. PARZOR has contacted Iran, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, the US and the UK to work and ensure publicity for the Year of the Zoroastrian.
  

2002

• October 2002: "Asha: the Law of Harmony - A Study of Environmental Consciousness in Zoroastrian Rituals" explores, records and interlinks environmental wisdom and methodology that has been handed down through 3000 years with academic researches. It not only preserves and encourages traditions and ways of life but also documents and analyzes them. It further relates them to the modern context to attract youth and encourage them to understand and continue this ancient wisdom. [Read More]

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