Awareness Creation - Exhibitions and Workshops

Since 1999, PARZOR has been studying and spreading awareness about Parsi Zoroastrian culture as one of the distinct threads in the tapestry of multicultural India. Reaching far back in time, an amalgam of Indian, Iranian, Chinese and European civilizations, Parsis today can be considered truly global. They can now be found world-wide from Australia to Alaska. Even within the short span of its existence the PARZOR Project has begun to attract the attention of the world.

This creation of awareness, linked as it is with keeping alive interest and knowledge of heritage within the community especially its youth and children, was one of the objectives of the PARZOR Project. A satisfaction felt is that youth and children come forward to learn from the Project and help. BUZY at Vadodara, PYLA at Ahmedabad and the Farohars of Delhi have shared their time with the project. After the Exhibitions and publicity in the national Press, young Parsis have approached the Project and want to be part of its team. There have also been offers of help from youth in UK and USA and PARZOR will co-ordinate research with them in due course of time.

The ultimate aim is to create a world class Museum, archival and research centre that will showcase the heritage and archive the findings of the PARZOR project.

Mr. R. P. Perera of UNESCO had strongly advised that PARZOR publicize its activities at various levels. This was essential in order to attract national attention to the heritage of the Parsis and the issues that they face, which are of concern to all those involved with protecting the heritage of humanity. For this module we had planned two exhibitions, but concluded by holding five exhibitions. Although these were an expensive proposition they have brought in benefits in the form of possible partnerships with institutions of national importance, assistance from Government, researchers some of whom have already commenced work with PARZOR and media and public attention and assistance.

From the oral recordings and photographs taken, two 20 minute film capsules and CDs were produced called Glimpses  2000 & 2001 and shown at gatherings at various places including the 7th World Zoroastrian Congress at Houston. From the vast collection of photographic material, some pictures have been made into fifty panels and have been displayed at Exhibitions. Sooni Taraporewalla's photographs from her book Parsis: A Photographic Journey were exhibited extensively for the first time in India. Taraporewalla s personal journey complemented the public documentation of facets of the Parsis from the PARZOR archives.

Ms. Shabana Azmi M.P, Rajya Sabha inaugurated the first PARZOR Exhibition. The PARZOR photographic panels cover Arts and Crafts, the Vads and Vadis of Gujarat, the life style of the Deccan Parsis, Intercultural links with other communities, the Meherjirana Library of Navsari, the Tanka water harvesting system and other aspects documented. The Pictures with a Purpose  Exhibition and Glimpses  have now been seen by many hundreds of people and have been extensively covered by the print and electronic media. Many people from all over the country and all walks of life who were hardly aware of the Parsis, have been sensitized to the rich heritage and culture of the community and its contribution to the making of modern India. Those who visited the exhibition have understood the global spread of the community and at the same time the penalties and predicaments of its progress.

The success of the exhibition in Delhi led to a request from UNESCO New Delhi for an exhibition at Paris during October 2001 to coincide with the meeting of the Executive Board of UNESCO. Since the exhibition panels designed were too large to transport, Dr. Cama made fresh panels with smaller size photographs and these were exhibited at UNESCO HQ Paris.

The exhibition was carried to Ahmedabad and Vadodara. The Hutheesing Visual Arts Centre, Ahmedabad became during 21st to 23rd October the Centre for not just the exhibition but a heartening Participatory Cultural Revival. Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, inaugurated the exhibition and "Glimpses 2001" was screened. The Gujarati Press and regional television channels covered the event. "The Sandesh" did a major cover story on the UNESCO project. In Vadodara, the exhibition was held at the Parsi Panchayat Hall. In both cities of Gujarat Mrs. Villoo Mirza, Ashdeen Lilaowala and the team from NID gave tremendous support. The NIFT also provided financial assistance for these two exhibitions.
The PARZOR project also put up an exhibition of Homai Vyarawalla's historical photographs during the Delhi Parsi Anjuman's 40th Anniversary from the 21st to 23rd of December. The PARZOR project speakers included Dr. Nadir Bharucha on Medical issues, Mrs. Mani Kamerkar on Parsi Theatre, Mr. Dadi Pudumjee on puppetry. Dr. Cama introduced Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla and conducted a question and answer session with her. Mr. Perera of UNESCO also addressed the audience.

An exhibition was held along with a Workshop organized by the Culture Ministry at the Sahitya Akademi on 10th May 2002. At this Workshop through the assistance of Mr. N. Gopalaswami, the heads of all Government bodies linked with the Cultural Ministry attended and plans were made for future collaboration along with these institutions. The presentations covered the following areas in which project proposals are ready and we are looking for funding.

• Parsi Theatre - Dadi Pudumjee.
• Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw - Brig. Adi Sahukar & Jessica Gupta, NID.
• Parsi Embroidery and textiles - Priya Mani, NID.
• Homai Vyarawalla - Sabeena Gadihoke, Jamia.
• The Persian perspective in Indian Art forms - Sandeep Bali.
• Tangible Heritage Protection - Prof. Kavas Kapadia, School of Planning and Architecture.
• Digital restoration and preservation - Hemant Mehta, Mahatta Inc.
• The Parsi Contribution to Indian Music, Hirjeebhai Doctor.
• Dying Dialect - Parsi Gujarati - (Dr. Bharati Modi).
• Gujarati Literature - (Dr. Mani Kamerkar).

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 - The Life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, MC', produced by PARZOR. 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

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

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

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

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