ZAF newsletter # 4 - 2006 1 of 20

Published by

the Zoroastrian Association of Florida Issue # 4 December 2006, Y.Z. 1376

Editor: Pauli Bhadha. Editorial Staff: Jahan Daruwala, Nancy Daruwala

Editorial: 2006 in Review

Another year draws to a close as we give thanks to our good fortune and appreciate being a part of our small but vibrant ZAF community. All our functions were well attended and enjoyed by all. We thank the ZAF Board members and all volunteers who have put in a simply outstanding effort.

We started off the year with a wonderful show by our kids at the Navroze function thanks to wonderful coaching by Aban, Lyla, Franah, and others. Our annual picnic at Malcolm Park was as usual a real blast.

INDEX Page No. Editorial: 2006 in Review by Pauli Bhadha, Editor 1 ZAF Pateti Celebrations: Reflections 4 ZAF Annual Ghambaar: Reflections 6 Z-Club Cultural Forum: Message from Aban Kavasmaneck 6 ZAF Community News:

ZAF participation at AIA Independence Day Celebrations 7 Anisa & Ariana Deboo1st Birthday Party 8 Malcolm Mehta 3rd Birthday Party 9 Nicholai Hansotia 2nd Birthday & Halloween Party 10

Directory Update: including births, deaths, & new arrivals 11 FEZANA Corner:

ZAF meets Rustom Kevala; President of FEZANA 12 s: List of awardees 13 FEZANA Scholarship

Ar letic s of Interest: inis r of In Parsi New Year Greetings from Prime M te dia 13

Parsi Directory Project by Yazdi Tantri 13 Are Indians Model Immigrants? Wadhwa, BusinessWeek 14 Zoroastrians Keep the Faith & Keep Dwindling NY Times 15

ZAF Calendar: ZAF AGM & Z-Club Meeting – Jan 14, 2007 20

Children’s Corner: Contributions by Alexis & Persis Bhadha 18 On the Lighter Side: Interesting Facts by Homz Shroff 19

Our Pateti celebration was simply incredible with tremendous performances by Lyla, Rita, Khushnuma, and of course our kids. Thanks to Lyla for a truly incredible job on the hall decorations. Words fail us but we will try: “Smashing!” “Simply, Mahvelous, Dahling!” See photos on Pages 4-5.

This issue of ZOR & MORE is sponsored by

Jo Ann & Soli Dastur and Katya & Kaizad Hansotia With Compliments & Best Wishes to ZAF

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The ZAF children gave a phenomenal performance at the AIA Independence Day celebrations, see Page 6. Aban Kavasmaneck has been on a tear organizing & directing performances by our children on three separate occasions this year! Thank you Aban & all participants! Next year, Aban and the parents will take a much deserved rest — the kids will perform a bit less often. We also thank Soli & Jo Ann Dastur for always attending our functions & volunteering to perform Jasans and to give presentations. They have also been a firm sponsor of our newsletter. Our monthly classes in Zoroastrian culture and religion are much needed and very popular, thanks to the dedication and zeal of Aban Kavasmaneck. We are happy that Hoshedar was able to fight back from a serious ailment and hopefully a full recovery so that he can spend many happy years together with Freny and Malcolm. We wish them all the best as they move back to their Bombay roots. But it is not farewell, just “Y’all come back soon.” Remember the tune, “Kabhi alvida na kehna…” (Never say goodbye!) But sadly, we did have to bid farewell to Perrin Shroff and Dinoo Antia who were always happy as they lived a full life. We also offer our condolences to Shireen Shroff for the sad demise of her father, Noshirwan Mistry, in Karachi. We wish Khushnuma Driver and Dustin Shroff all the best as they get ready to leave for college and the start of promising careers. Our Best Wishes to All for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season! Incidentally, the ancient Persians & Egyptians had always celebrated this time of the year -- the Winter Equinox as the end of long, dark nights and the start of longer days. Light is associated with goodness and darkness with evil in our religion and other ancient faiths. But the popes have often tried to co-opt celebrations by other faiths (which they refer to as pagan) Sometimes the Roman Catholic church isn't too successful: Halloween, an ancient Celtic / Welsh celebration, keeps gaining popularity in spite of the church’s attempts to declare it, "All Saints Day!"

We have an important announcement: The Next AGM will be held on Sunday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the residence of Casey Raja, 10315 NW 133rd street, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018 (Tel: 305-557-1871) to review the progress of your Association and to elect the Directors to the ZAF Board for the next two years. Tea and snacks will be served. Please attend and vote. Each adult member is entitled to one vote, provided they have paid their 2006 and/ or 2007 dues. (The dues can be paid in advance or at the AGM if you wish) The 1st Z-Club Meeting for 2007 will also be held at the same venue, just before the AGM at 1:30 p.m. Please try to come early and bring your kids. You have been sent a special mailing describing the process of nomination for the ZAF Board. If you need more information, please contact the Secretary, Jahan Daruwala, either by telephone (305-792-4225), Fax at (305-792-4150), or by e-mail at JBDARUWALA@aol.com, no later than January 5, 2007.

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Your current board has worked hard for the last few years to make the quality of life a little better for our small Zarathoshti community. We have many accomplishments: Putting the association on a much sounder financial footing, better compliance with government regulations, and many other Firsts (initiatives) and records, such as

First Publication of a comprehensive directory (including Tampa Bay and Orlando area listings) A new ZAF Logo depicting Florida’s sun and water around the ZAF flame Record Donations to subsidize our functions and newsletters First Publications in Fezana and Hamazor magazines First Children’s classes (Z Club) in culture and religion. First Presentation at the FEZANA AGM in Atlanta First Participation (ZAF booth and children’s skit) in A.I.A. functions First non-Zoroastrian spouse member on the ZAF Board First time acting as the host location for a Fezana event and supporting a Zarathoshti Youth national

conference (ZYNA) in Miami Large attendances at all our key functions Record number of mailing addresses since ZAF foundation in 1994 A revised and comprehensive Newsletter that tries to capture the essence of the community.

is the status of the nine Directors of the current ZAF Board whose term expires on 12-31-06: Listed below

Name Standing for Re-Election in 2007 1. Khushroo Daruw Undecided alla 2. Pauli Bhadha. Undecided 3. Jimmy Major Yes 4. Jahan Daruwala No 5. Nancy Daruwala No 6. Jeroo Irani Yes 7. Aban Kavasmaneck Yes

8. Navroze Irani Yes 9. Hovi Shroff Resigned (to pursue Master’s degree)

Thus, we have four persons who are definitely running for re-election. Please volunteer your time and efforts and stand for election. It is very easy in our busy lives to not get involved and very soon, you may find your children have grown-up and have completely acclimatized to living a typical American life while forgetting their great heritage. The older generation has clung to their Zarathoshti heritage and “Parsipannu” but the younger generation will have very few concepts to retain and pass on to future generations, unless we commit our time nd energy to enrich our own lives and that of our children and to leave them a lasting legacy. a

While we have grown from about 45 – 50 addresses at the founding of ZAF in 1994 to ~ 77 addresses, the harsh reality is that the ZAF Board and the tiny Zarathoshti community needs committed and dedicated members eager to further our progress and have a good time doing it! Please look at your service as your contribution to society and your community. Hence, we earnestly entreat you to stand for election to the ZAF Board. Some of the

irectors of ZAF have been on the Board for as long as 5 years. We do need new blood on the committee. D We really regret that Jahan and Nancy Daruwala are not standing for re-election due to personal reasons. Both of them have been incredibly active in the day-to-day running of the Board as well as in strategic planning for a better tomorrow. The Directory, the new ZAF logo, ZAF Bylaw review and proposed revisions, and publications including newsletters are some of their finest accomplishments. We wish them the best and hope they will ontinue to play a major role in our community. Good luck and our best wishes to both of you! c

Pauli Bhadha

Editor & VP, ZAF

ZAF PATETI CELEBRATION �– REFLECTIONS

ZAF celebrated Pateti on September 2 at the Hallandale Beach Community Center in grand style. From the feedback we received, this was one of the best Pateti events in ZAF history. A note from Darab & Nellie Unwalla reflects the sentiment of all as follows:

nd

‘’ Darab & I would like to thank all our dear ZAF members especially those who were responsible for making Saturday night's Pateti event so enjoyable. The opening of the evening w/the religious ceremony, the excellent 'Natak' performed by our little members and the dance performances all were excellently done and appreciated by all. The hall and the flower decorations were beautiful. A lot of hard work and weeks of preparations must have

one doing it, and would like you to know that we really appreciated it all. A big thank you to all. Nellie & Darab” g We wish to recognize and extend a special vote of thanks to the following individuals:

o Zersis Minocher for helping us to make the reservation of the Hallandale Beach Community hall at a favorable rate.

o Hovi Shroff for all the hard work and dedication in arranging the superb catering contract and conducting a very successful raffle; not to mention your generous contribution of gift items.

o Aban Kavasmaneck– and the Z Club children for their dedication and help to make the "Sohrab & Rustom'' play a great success.

o Rita Engineer, Lyla Todywala & Khushnuma Driver: we can assure you that the 'crowd' truly enjoyed the dance performances and especially the spirit and dedication behind them. You made ZAF shine on Navroz.

o Lyla and Sam Todywala for professional and spectacular hall decorations and Meher Cama for her generous help in providing the decorative materials:

o Soli & Jo Ann Dastur for an inspiring Humbandagi. We appreciated the effort and the spirit with which you led the gathering through the prayers and their significance, to help start off the new-year in a style that unites us.

o Our generous donors who made special contributions to supplement the budget for this event: Meher & Shiroiy Cama Nancy & Jahanbux Daruwala

Katya & Kaizad Hansotia Freny & Hoshedar Mehta Dolly & Kersi Munshi Hovi & Burjis Shroff Lyla & Sam Todywala Sheroo & Dick Vazir

ZAF Members having a blast at the New Year Function at Hallandale Beach Com Center

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Rita Engineer and Lyla Todywala whooping it up Khushnuma Driver exhibiting her skill & grace in Indian filmi-style dancing

Rustom (Cyrus Irani) is entertained by dancers (Karina Irani and Shanaya Patel) as the Shah (Mehrzaad Driver) looks on.

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ZAF Annual Ghambaar Attendees to our annual Ghambaar on November 5 at the Palace Indian Restaurant were treated to a wonderful, traditional Parsi meal of Dhan-sak and Sali-Boti. This meal was one of the tastiest that we had ever eaten.

ZAF newsletter # 4 - 2006 6 of 20

he cash donations covered

he Z - Club is moving forward with a host of new activities and hands-on simulations that are intended to

the month of October we made a live video of our Kusti prayers, along with the actual Kusti-tying ritual,

November, we actually choreographed the interior of an Agiary and simulated a walk-through, complete

hank you, Aban Kavasmaneck

Special kudos to the Palace Restaurant culinary staff and Casey Raja. We also thank everyone for donations including Casey Raja for providing a vegetable dish at his expense.

Nancy Kessler & Stephen Samson are all smiles at the banquet while

Tnearly 70% of the cost of the Ghambaar. Khushroo Daruwalla (ZAF President) and Dustyn Shroff pile on the food

Treinforce and emphasize the importance of our Zoroastrian rituals, practices, prayers, and heritage in our daily lives. Inwhich will be distributed to all the children. Inwith washing hands, doing the Kusti prayers, and then Khushroo as the attending Dastoorji tending the “afarganyu” fire. The children enjoyed the invaluable experience and importance of praying in an Agiary, offering “sukhar”, and understanding why we worship Ahura Mazda through Fire. It is a joy to see our children flourish while absorbing the incredible richness and universality of our religion and culture. A heartfelt thank-you is due to the dedication and love of our wonderful parents and the Board for their support and encouragement. T

ZAF newsletter # 4 - 2006 7 of 20

ZAF participated again this year Community

Aban Kavasmaneck gave an

ike last year, ZAF had a

ZAF Community News

at the AIA Independence Day Celebrations at the BrowardCenter. Each local Indian association had a booth and presented a dance or other entertainment. Our ZAF kids put on a very spirited performance of the classic play, “Rustom & Sorab,” a dry-run for the same performance at the New Year / Navroze function.

introductory talk and Persis Bhadha narrated the events. Lbooth where we informed other communities about our culture and faith. Jeroo Irani and your editor manned the booth. The 4-page handout that Jahan and your editor had prepared the previous year was updated and available for distribution. This same handout was published as a center-fold in the October 2006 issue of Hamazor magazine. Pauli Bhadha and Jeroo Irani manning the ZAF booth.

(Also shown Señor Hansotia lending his support)

Young Sorab (Karina Irani) questions mother Tehmina (Jessica Patel) on his strength

Sorab (Darius Irani) and Rustom (Cyrus Irani) in their deadly duel as they re-enact the classic play.

Anisa & Ariana Deboo

(the twin sisters) celebrated their first birthday in grand style. Congratulations to the proud parents Jasmin & Rustom Deboo and the grand parents: Darab & Nellie Unwalla and Jimmy & Freny Deboo.

Anisa and Ariana with their proud parents, Jasmin & Rustom Deboo and grandpa, Jimmy Deboo.

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Malcolm Mehta celebrated his 3rd Birthday on October 1, 2006 at a nice beach-side hotel in Pompano Beach. All the kids had a great time. Hoshedar and Freny Mehta were so proud. We wish Malcolm and his parents well in their relocation to Dadar Parsi Colony, Bombay (Mumbai).

Hoshedar with Nellie & Casey

Malcolm with Stéfane, Jedd & Ethan

Kashmira, Darius, Sharon, Farida & Jehangir (Jay)

ZAF Newsletter # 4-2006 9 of 20

Kaizad and Katya Hansotia gave a phenomenal Halloween party at their residence on October 28, 2006 to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Nicholai. All the kids had great fun carving pumpkins. Everyone was dressed in costume and all had a wonderful time. We regret we do not have a photograph of Nicholai to share with you.

Kashmira & Pauli (Samurai Couple paying their respects to the Samurai Chef)

Katya and Kaizad

ZAF Newsletter # 4-2006 10 of 20

Freny & Hoshedar (These costumes were carefully packed to wear

when visiting relatives and in-laws in India) Franah with Sara & Persis

(Doc getting ready to give a blood transfusion)

Condolences: Our dear Mrs. (Dr.) Parrin Shroff passed away on September 9th. The Funeral Ceremony was held on Sunday, September 10th at the Kraeer Funeral Home in Pompano Beach. Erwads Dr. Soli Dastur and Khushroo Daruwalla performed the funeral (Paidas) ceremony attended by a large gathering of friends of the family from all walks of life. The outpour of support and love for the late Mrs. Parrin Shroff and for her sons Homz, Burjis, daughter-in-law Hovi and the grandsons Dustyn and Kevin were evident and absolutely heartwarming. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Condolences: Our beloved Mrs. Dinoo Antia passed away on Thanksgiving while visiting Mumbai with her dear husband Billy. Whenever we met her, she had a warm smile and a cordial greeting for all. May Ahura Mazda grant her soul eternal peace. We extend our sincere sympathy and condolences to her dear husband Billy,

ZAF newsletter # 4 - 2006 11 of 20

ong

with her two brothers from Texas were able to reach Karachi in time to be with their dad for the last few days.

piness to your family and we wish you all

a very happy, healthy and prosperous life!

son Phil, daughter-in-law Viola and the grandchildren Damien and Marina.

Condolences: Shireen Shroff's dad, Noshirwan Mistry passed away in Karachi on November 27. Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to Jehangir, Shireen and her family. With Ahura Mazda's grace, Shireen, al

Dr. & Mrs. Darius Unwala are now the proud parents of their son, Nikhil, who was born on August 31st 2006. He weighed in at 7 lbs 11 ounces and was 22 inches long. Congratulations! May he bring joy and hap

Directory Update & New Arrivals

Firdosh & Chisty Bulsara have moved from Toronto to Miami. (6280-NW 173rd Street, Apt # 1210, Miami, FL 33015. e-mail: business: firdosh@karell.com, home: fidoshbulsara@hotmail.com, Phone: office – 305-446-7766, home: 305-826-9679, cell: 786-554-7628. Business address: 7300-Corporate Center Drive, Suite-703, Miami, FL, 33126. Welcome Firdosh and Chisti. We wish you and your two sons a very happy and healthy stay in our

ZAF area. Firdosh runs a travel agency specializing in African safaris and trips to India. Framarz Byramjee’s address has changed to: 2871 N. Oakland Forest Dr. # 303, Oakland Park, FL 33309 Arish (Dr.) & Mandana Eduljee have moved from New York to Miami, at 7350 Byron Avenue, Apt #1, Miami Beach, FL 33141. e-mail: harr1000@yahoo.com. Welcome Arish and Mandana and we wish you a very happy and healthy stay in our ZAF area. Arish is a neurologist at Jackson Medical Center. Mandana is from Iran.

Soli & Jeroo Irani’s address should read 11055 SW 15th Street. (not 1055). Please make this correction in your directory. We apologize for the error and the inconvenience it has caused.

Hoshedar & Freni Mehta will be relocating to Mumbai. We will miss their smiling faces and friendship, and wish them all the happiness in their new residence.

Dr. & Mrs. Darius Unwala’s address h nd Street, Miami, FL 33137.

as changed to: Apt. 703, 615 NE 22

DONATIONS We are very pleased to report that through your generosity, the cash donations to support various ZAF activities this year have totaled $ 3,683. This is a new ZAF record !!! The details are as follows: General Fund = $ 486, Navroz support = $ 680, Pateti support = $ 1,405, Newsletter support = $559, Ghambaar support = $553. Total Cash received = $ 3,683. In addition, the hall rental and luncheon for the AGM in January were fully funded. Congratulations and a big vote of thanks to all.

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FEZANA Corner ZAF meets with the President of FEZANA, Dr. Rustom J. Kevala On Sunday, September 17, 2006, 32 individuals from the Zoroastrian Association of Florida (ZAF) and the governing Board of ZAF invited Dr. Rustom J. Kevala, President of FEZANA, to a luncheon where he made a presentation, followed by a Question & Answer period. Rustom (as he prefers to be called) presented the three point platform and action priorities for FEZANA:

To build a united Zarathushti community To make Zarathushti presence an integral part of the North American landscape, and To develop a viable infrastructure that can serve our community

He elaborated upon each issue to address how they shall be accomplished. In addition, Rustom described various operating committees, their role and structure and how the local chapters can contribute to and derive benefits from Fezana and each other. Interactions and initiatives with extra-FEZANA organizations, such as NAMC, WZO, and WZCC were also discussed. His presentation was informative and authoritative and gave an opportunity for a truly meaningful dialogue during the Q & A period. The feedback indicates that ZAF had a very successful and worthwhile afternoon together. The visit helped to create a better understanding of FEZANA's vision, role and the path forward. The local chapters, such as ZAF, can and should be using FEZANA as a resource, a communication forum (e.g., FEZANA magazine and website) a benchmarking mechanism, a coordinator for disaster relief efforts, and referrals on best practices for cultural and religious education. The audience also recognizes more clearly where FEZANA can help and which are the areas where a local chapter must resolve its own local issues and challenges. The following message was received from Dr. Kevala after his visit with ZAF: Dear ZAF Members:

Yasmin and I are deeply grateful to you for inviting us to meet you during lunch on Sunday, Sept. 17. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, the camaraderie, and your warm hospitality, especially since we are also members of ZAF. We met many more members at the home of Jimmy and Farida Major after lunch. We pray that Jimmy gets better soon so that he can continue to spread his usual good cheer to all of us. Thanks are also due to our friends Soli and Jo Anne Dastur for their kindness and help in every way. And we especially thank Jahanbux and Nancy Daruwala for hosting our stay in their beautiful home in Aventura, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

On Saturday, we were fortunate to mingle with the Gourmet club members at the home of the Kavasmanecks, where we saw the video of Rustom & Sohrab performed by the Z-club, directed by Aban Kavasmaneck.

ZAF is a unique Anjuman in North America. Membership is spread out over a wide area and also in a wide range of ages. There is a good mix of youngsters, working adults and retirees. This places unusual challenges on the shoulders of the executive board. Community building requires a wide variety of activities throughout the year. The youth need to grow up together in a Zarathushti atmosphere. The adults like stimulating discussions, outings and social events. The "seniors" like to get together and reminisce. The long experience of the seniors is a vital resource that is often overlooked.

I received some very good feedback from you, especially about your need for a religious education curriculum for the youth. I also noticed an eagerness among the members to reach out to the wider Zarathushti community in Florida and elsewhere. The ZAF Board is attempting to develop a shared vision for the community and I hope that all of you will contribute your personal visions to them.

FEZANA operates through its committees: welfare, religious education, scholarships, sports, youth, and many others. Each Association is a Board Member with voting rights. So the Associations really run FEZANA. Elected officers like me are there to do your bidding. So let us know what you want and we will do our utmost to live up to your expectations.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to get to know all of you. Wishing for a bright future,

Rustom Kevala, FEZANA President (9-19-06).

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FEZANA SCHOLARS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT (2006-07) The following scholarships are announced by FEZANA’s Academic Scholarship Committee. They are a token of our support to these young and enthusiastic Zarathushtis who are pursuing higher education to further their careers. They are at the same time furthering the stature of our community as an erudite and well-placed community worthy of respect. (Announced by Dr. Dolly Dastur and Dr. Rustom J. Kevala) THE Mehraban and Morvarid Kheradi Endowment Scholarship ($5000) Farokh Irani, University of Florida, Medical College The Banoobai and Maneckshaw Kapadia Scholarship ($1000) Nasha Minwalla, University of Guelph, 1st year Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics FEZANA Scholarships (Total awarded $10,500) Rayomand Dabhoiwala, Michigan Technological University, Masters in Mechanical Engineering Shahryar Bahmani, University of Arizona, College of Law Rashna Umrigar, University of South Florida, Masters in Public Health Shirin Kiani, Simon Fraser University, Masters in Global Health Perinaz Bhada, Columbia University, Masters in Earth Resources Engineering Anahita Amalsad, University of California, Premed School Anaita Bharucha, University of Western Ontario, Bachelor of Medical Science AND an Honors degree in Bus. Admin. Farshaad Bilimoria, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Science Farhad Jamshedi, American River College, CA, Civil and Structural Engineering Afsaan Kermani, University of Central Florida, Computer Software Engineering Kainas Mistry, McGill University, Bachelor of Science, 1st year

Articles of Interest Greetings on Navroz (Z-new Year) from the Prime Minister of India (Taken from a Government of India announcement)

I am glad to know that the Parsi New Year is being celebrated on 20th August. The contribution of the Parsi community to the cause of the nation building is well recognized and a source of great pride. The community has excelled in diverse fields and brought glory for themselves and the country. The Parsis represent the best traditions of India’s composite culture and diversity. On this occasion, I have great pleasure in extending my greetings to all the Parsis and conveying to them my best wishes for their success, prosperity and well-being.

A World-wide Listing of Parsi-Zoroastrians… A project by Yezdi Tantra & Ader Gandi

Ader Gandi is a Real Estate and Finance Advisor from San Francisco and he runs his own website theparsichronicle.com which documents Zoroastrian events from across the world. He had this idea of starting the parsidirectory.com and themissingparsi.com purely as a service to the community. Yezdi Tantra (see below) took up theparsidirectory.com and with a lot of investment in time and effort and cost, they now have more than 50,000 registrations online. Some are old, some are duplicates, but as and when we get information from the people concerned, we keep updating the same. Hence, though we do not claim 100% accuracy, it has been quite an effort well worth it. Some people have found long lost friends and have been very grateful for the same.

Yezdi Tantra (of yezdi@on-lyne.com): Yezdi is from Mumbai. He has his own computer business – hardware, software, web hosting / designing, etc. More details about his organization are available at www.on-lyne.com. He is also a Director in Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank, Mumbai, and also the Technical Director of World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC).

Please do take some time to have a look at www.theparsidirectory.com, register yourself and let Yezdi Tantra have your comments. If you have access to any directories online or offline or if you could put me in touch with someone who can help in furthering the process, please do let me know and we will assist in getting that data online, including conversion of data into electronic form, if need be.

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Are Indians the Model Immigrants? September 14, 2006. BusinessWeek.com columnist and accomplished businessman, Vivek Wadhwa, shares his views on why Indians are such a successful immigrant group They have funny accents, occasionally dress in strange outfits, and some wear turbans and grow beards, yet Indians have been able to overcome stereotypes to become the U.S.'s most successful immigrant group. Not only are they leaving their mark in the field of technology, but also in real estate, journalism, literature, and entertainment. They run some of the most successful small businesses and lead a few of the largest corporations. Valuable lessons can be learned from their various successes.

According to the 2000 Census, the median household income of Indians was $70,708-far above the national average of $50,046. An Asian-American hospitality industry advocacy group says that Indians own 50% of all economy lodging and 37% of all hotels in the U.S. AnnaLee Saxenian, a dean and professor at University of California, Berkeley, estimates that in the late 1990s, close to 10% of technology startups in Silicon Valley were headed by Indians.

You'll find Indian physicians working in almost every hospital as well as running small-town practices. Indian journalists hold senior positions at major publications, and Indian faculty have gained senior appointments at most universities. Last month, Indra Nooyi, an Indian woman, was named CEO of PepsiCo (PEP) (see BusinessWeek. com, 8/14/06, "PepsiCo Shakes It Up").

A MODEST EXPLANATION. Census data show that 81.8% of Indian immigrants arrived in the U.S. after 1980. They received no special treatment or support and faced the same discrimination and hardship that any immigrant group does. Yet, they learned to thrive in American society. Why are Indians such a model immigrant group?

In the absence of scientific research, I'll present my own reasons for why this group has achieved so much. As an Indian immigrant myself, I have had the chance to live the American dream. I started two successful technology companies and served on the boards of several others. To give back, I co-founded the Carolinas chapter of a networking group called The Indus Entrepreneurs and mentored dozens of entrepreneurs.

Last year, I joined Duke University as an executive-in- residence to share my business experience with students (see BusinessWeek. com, 9/14/05, "Degrees of Achievement" ) and research how the U.S. can maintain its global competitive advantage (see BusinessWeek. com, 7/10/06, "Engineering Gap? Fact and Fiction").

1. Education. The Census Bureau says that 63.9% of Indians over 25 hold at least a bachelor's degree, compared with the national average of 24.4%. Media reports routinely profile graduates from one Indian college-the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). This is a great school, but most successful Indians I know aren't IIT graduates. Neither are the doctors, journalists, motel owners, or the majority of technology executives. Their education comes from a broad range of colleges in India and the U.S. They believe that education is the best way to rise above poverty and hardship.

2. Upbringing. For my generation, what was most socially acceptable was to become a doctor, engineer, or businessperson. Therefore, the emphasis was on either learning science or math or becoming an entrepreneur. 3. Hard work. With India's competitive and rote-based education system, children are forced to spend the majority of their time on their schooling. For better or for worse, it's work, work, and more work for anyone with access to education. 4. Determination to overcome obstacles. In a land of over a billion people with a corrupt government, weak infrastructure, and limited opportunities, it takes a lot to simply survive, let alone get ahead. Indians learn to be resilient, battle endless obstacles, and make the most of what they have. In India, you're on your own and learn to work around the problems that the state and society create for you.

5. Entrepreneurial spirit. As corporate strategist C.K. Prahalad notes in his interview with BusinessWeek’s Pete Engardio (see BusinessWeek. com, 1/23/06, "Business Prophet"), amidst the poverty, hustle, and bustle of overcrowded India is a "beehive of entrepreneurialism and creativity." After observing street markets, Prahalad says that "every individual is engaged in a business of some kind-whether it is selling single cloves of garlic, squeezing sugar cane juice for pennies a glass, or hauling TVs." This entrepreneurial sprit is something that most Indians grow up with.

6. Recognizing diversity. Indians hold many ethnic, racial, gender, and caste biases. But to succeed, they learn to overlook or adapt these biases when necessary. There are six major religions in India, and the Indian constitution recognizes 22 regional languages. Every region in the country has its own customs and character.

7. Humility. Talk to almost any immigrant, regardless of origin, and he will share stories about leaving social status behind in his home country and working his way up from the bottom of the ladder in his adopted land. It's a humbling process, but humility is an asset in entrepreneurship. You learn many valuable lessons when you start from scratch and work your way to success.

8. Family support/values. In the absence of a social safety net, the family takes on a very important role in Indian culture. Family members provide all kinds of support and guidance to those in need.

9. Financial management. Indians generally pride themselves on being fiscally conservative. Their businesses usually watch every penny and spend within their means.

10. Forming and leveraging networks. Indians immigrants found that one of the secrets to success was to learn from those who had paved the trails (see BusinessWeek. com, 6/6/05, "Ask for Help and Offer It").

Some examples: Successful Indian technologists in Silicon Valley formed an organization called The Indus Entrepreneurs to mentor other entrepreneurs and provide a forum for networking. TiE is reputed to have helped launch hundreds of startups, some of which achieved billions in market capitalization. This was a group I turned to when I needed help. Top Indian journalists and academics created the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) to provide networking and assistance to newcomers. SAJA runs journalism conferences and workshops, and provides scholarships to aspiring South-Asian student journalists.

In the entertainment industry, fledgling filmmakers formed the South Asian American Films and Arts Association (SAAFA). Their mission is the promotion of South Asian cinematic and artistic endeavors, and mentoring newcomers.

11. Giving back. The most successful entrepreneurs I know believe in giving back to the community and society that has given them so much opportunity. TiE founders invested great effort to ensure that their organization was open, inclusive, and integrated with mainstream American society. Their No. 1 rule was that their charter members would give without taking. SAJA officers work for top publications and universities, yet they volunteer their evenings and weekends to run an organization to assist newcomers.

12. Integration and acceptance. The Pew Global Attitudes Project, which conducts worldwide public opinion surveys, has shown that Indians predominantly hold favorable opinions of the U.S. When Indians immigrate to the U.S, they usually come to share the American dream and work hard to integrate.

Indians have achieved more overall business success in less time in the U.S. than any other recent immigrant group. They have shown what can be achieved by integrating themselves into U.S. society and taking advantage of all the opportunities the country offers.

Zoroastrians Keep the Faith, and Keep Dwindling, LAURIE GOODSTEIN, Published in NY Times: September 6, 2006

BURR RIDGE, Ill. — In his day job, Kersey H. Antia is a psychologist who specializes in panic disorders. In his private life, Mr. Antia dons a long white robe, slips a veil over his face and goes to work as a Zoroastrian priest, performing rituals passed down through a patrilineal chain of priests stretching back to ancient Persia.

Zoroastrians gathered for an annual fire ceremony last month in Burr Ridge, Ill. A portrait of the Prophet Zarathustra is in the background.

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Viraf Darukhanawalla wore a sacred cord, or kushti, at the ceremony.

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“We were once at least 40, 50 million — can you imagine?” said Mr. Antia, senior

There is a palpable panic among Zoroastrians today — not only in the United

Zoroastrianism predates Christianity and Islam, and many historians say it influenced those faiths and cross-fertilized

While Zoroastrians once dominated an area stretching from what is now Rome and Greece to India and Russia, their

The Zoroastrians’ mobility and adaptability has contributed to their demographic crisis. They assimilate and intermarry,

Despite their shrinking numbers, Zoroastrians — who follow the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek) — are

In South Africa, the last Zoroastrian priest recently died, and there is no one left to officiate at ceremonies, said

“We have to be working together if we are going to survive,” Mr. Rivetna said.

Although the collective picture is bleak, most individual Zoroastrians appear to be thriving. They are well-educated and

This is the second major exodus in Zoroastrian history. In Iran, after Muslims rose to power in the seventh century

After a service for the dead in which priests fed sticks of sandalwood and pinches of frankincense into a blazing urn, Mr. Antia surveyed the Zoroastrian faithful of the Midwest — about 80 people in saris, suits and blue jeans.

priest at the fire temple here in suburban Chicago. “At one point we had reached the pinnacle of glory of the Persian Empire and had a beautiful religious philosophy that governed the Persian kings. “Where are we now? Completely wiped out,” he said. “It pains me to say, in 100 years we won’t have many Zoroastrians.”

States, but also around the world — that they are fighting the extinction of their faith, a monotheistic religion that most scholars say is at least 3,000 years old.

Judaism as well, with its doctrines of one God, a dualistic universe of good and evil and a final day of judgment.

global population has dwindled to 190,000 at most, and perhaps as few as 124,000, according to a survey in 2004 by Fezana Journal, published quarterly by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America. The number is imprecise because of wildly diverging counts in Iran, once known as Persia — the incubator of the faith. “Survival has become a community obsession,” said Dina McIntyre, an Indian-American lawyer in Chesapeake, Va., who has written and lectured widely on her religion.

virtually disappearing into their adopted cultures. And since the faith encourages opportunities for women, many Zoroastrian women are working professionals who, like many other professional women, have few children or none.

divided over whether to accept intermarried families and converts and what defines a Zoroastrian. An effort to create a global organizing body fell apart two years ago after some priests accused the organizers of embracing “fake converts” and diluting traditions. “They feel that the religion is not universal and is ethnic in nature, and that it should be kept within the tribe,” said Jehan Bagli, a retired chemist in Toronto who is a priest, or mobed, and president of the North American Mobed Council, which includes about 100 priests. “This is a tendency that to me sometimes appears suicidal. And they are prepared to make that sacrifice.”

Rohinton Rivetna, a Zoroastrian leader in Chicago who, with his wife, Roshan, was a principal mover behind the failed effort to organize a global body. But they have not given up.

well-traveled professionals, earning incomes that place them in the middle and upper classes of the countries where they or their families settled after leaving their homelands in Iran and India. About 11,000 Zoroastrians live in the United States, 6,000 in Canada, 5,000 in England, 2,700 in Australia and 2,200 in the Persian Gulf nations, according to the Fezana Journal survey.

A.D., historians say the Zoroastrian population was decimated by massacres, persecution and conversions to Islam. Seven boatloads of Zoroastrian refugees fled Iran and landed on the coast of India in 936. Their descendants, known as Parsis, built Mumbai, formerly Bombay, into the world capital of Zoroastrianism.

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The Zoroastrian magazine Parsiana publishes charts each month tracking births, deaths and marriages. Leaders fret over the reports from Mumbai, where deaths outnumber births six to one. The intermarriage rate there has risen to about one in three. The picture in North America is more hopeful: about 1.5 births for one death. But the intermarriage rate in North America is now nearly 50 percent.

Soli Dastur, an exuberant priest who lives in Florida, is among the first generation of immigrants who started the trend. Mr. Dastur grew up in a village outside Mumbai, where his father was a priest, the fire temple was the center of town and his whole world was Zoroastrian. He arrived in Evanston, Ill., in 1960, where he knew of no other Zoroastrians, to attend college on a scholarship provided by one of the Parsi endowments in Mumbai, which have since provided scholarships to many others. He earned a Ph.D., worked as a chemical engineer and married an American Roman Catholic he met on a blind date 40 years ago.

Mr. Dastur is a priest in much demand to perform ceremonies because of his melodic chanting of the prayers. He and his wife, Jo Ann, have two grown daughters. Neither married a Zoroastrian. “They’re good human beings,” Mr. Dastur said. “That’s more important to me.”

The very tenets of Zoroastrianism could be feeding its demise, many adherents said in interviews. Zoroastrians believe in free will, so in matters of religion they do not believe in compulsion. They do not proselytize. They can pray at home instead of going to a temple. While there are priests, there is no hierarchy to set policy. And their basic doctrine is a universal ethical precept: “good thoughts, good words, good deeds.” “That’s what I take away from Zoroastrianism,” said Tenaz Dubash, a filmmaker in New York City who is making a documentary about the future of her faith, “that I’m a cerebral, thinking human being, and I need to think for myself.”

Ferzin Patel, who runs a support group for 20 intermarried couples in New York, said that while the Zoroastrians in the group adored their faith and wanted to teach it to their children, they in no way wanted to compel their spouses to convert. “In the intermarriage group, I don’t think anyone feels that someone should forfeit their religion just for Zoroastrianism,” Ms. Patel said.

Despite, or because of, the high intermarriage rate, some Zoroastrian priests refuse to accept converts or to perform initiation ceremonies for adopted children or the children of intermarried couples, especially when the father is not Zoroastrian. The ban on these practices is far stronger in India and Iran than in North America.

“As soon as you do it, you start diluting your ethnicity, and one generation has intermarriage, and the next generation has more dilution and the customs become all fuzzy and they eventually disappear,” said Jal N. Birdy, a priest in Corona, Calif., who will not perform weddings of mixed couples. “That would destroy my community, which is why I won’t do it.”

The North American Mobed Council is so divided on the issue of accepting intermarried spouses and children that it has been unable to take a position, said Mr. Bagli, the council’s president. He supports accepting converts because he said he can find no ban in Zoroastrian texts, but he estimated that as many as 40 percent of the priests in his group were opposed.

The peril and the hope for Zoroastrianism are embodied in a child of the diaspora, Rohena Elavia Ullal, 27, a physical therapist in suburban Chicago. Ms. Ullal knew from an early age that her parents wanted her to marry another Zoroastrian. Her mother, a former board president of the Chicago temple, helped organize Sunday school classes once a month there, enticing teenagers with weekend sleepovers and roller-skating trips.

The result was a core group of close friends who felt more like cousins, Ms. Ullal said recently over breakfast. Both of her brothers found mates at Zoroastrian youth congresses, and one is already married. Ms. Ullal stayed on the lookout.

“There were so few,” she said. “I guess you’re lucky if you find somebody. That would be the ideal.” Ms. Ullal’s college boyfriend is also the child of Indian immigrants to the United States, but he is Hindu. [They married on Saturday and had two ceremonies — one Hindu, one Zoroastrian.] But Ms. Ullal says that before they even became engaged, they talked about her desire to raise their children as Zoroastrians. “It’s scary; we’re dipping down in numbers,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt his parents, but he doesn’t have the kind of responsibility, whereas I do.”

CHILDREN’S CORNER

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The Children’s Corner is intended for children who are sixteen and younger. We invite our children to send in their contributions puzzles, quizzes, drawings, articles, jokes, and news for this section.

What do you call a scary horse? A nightmare. Why are elephants banned from public phone booths? They always put down their trunks. Why is a dog sticking his head out of a window like your little brother? One has his neck in the pane and the other is a pain in the neck. What is a soda machine’s favorite dance? The can-can. Why did the drummer bring a chicken to band practice? He needed new drumsticks. Where do hair colorists sit when they go to baseball games? In the bleachers. Why did the batter tear off his clothes after he hit a home run? He wanted his team to have a winning streak.

What did the owner of the coffee shop give to her new employees? A list of do’s and donuts. When do doctors get angry? When they run out of patients. Doctor Jokes:

Patient: Doctor, Doctor! You have got to help me! Some mornings I wake up and think I am Donald Duck. Other mornings, I think I am Mickey Mouse. Doctor: Hmmm, how long have you been having these Disney spells? A man made an appointment to see a new optometrist. “Doctor.” The man says, “I think I’m suffering from poor eyesight. “Oh, don’t worry,” says the doctor, “I can just print your bill bigger.”

Contributed by Alexis Bhadha

REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, but male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer keep their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, in EVERY story telling about Santa's reindeer we assumed that they were boys, but EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should've known... only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost !!!

Contributed by Persis Bhadha

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE INTERESTING FACTS

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury. Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. Coca-Cola was originally green. It is impossible to lick your elbow. The State with the highest percentage of people who walk! to work: Alaska The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% The percentage of N. America that is wilderness: 38% The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400 The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000 Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer. The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? A. Obsession Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? A. One thousand Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common? A. All invented by women. Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A. Honey Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year? A. Father's Day In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... "Good night, sleep tight." It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month... which we know today as the honeymoon. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "Mind your P's and Q's" Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice. At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Contributed by Homz Shroff

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UPCOMING Z.A.F. EVENTS - 2006 PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR Saturday, January 14, Casey Raja’s Residence:

Z-Club Meeting: 1:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting (AGM): 3:00 p.m.

Navroze Saturday, March 24 * Picnic Sunday, April 22 Pateti / New Year Sunday, August 25 Ghambaar Sunday, October 15 * Tentative, depending upon availability of suitable hall.

From: ZAF, c/o Jahanbux & Nancy Daruwala

21050 Point Place, Unit 1205 Aventura, FL 33180

ZAF Board President

Khushroo Daruwalla Vice President Pauli Bhadha Secretary Jahanbux Daruwala Treasurer Jimmy Major Members-at-large Nancy Daruwala Jeroo Irani Navroj Irani Aban Kavasmaneck Youth Representative

Dustyn Shroff

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