Expressing concern over the declining population of Zoroastrian community across the world, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday that this phenomenon needed to be addressed pragmatically and sensitively.
Inaugurating the tenth World Zoroastrian Congress here, the President said: “The declining population of the Zoroastrian community is a cause for concern as there are only 1,40,000 Zoroastrian followers worldwide and one-third of this number is aged over 60. This phenomenon needs to be addressed very pragmatically and sensitively”.
He however, said that there was no doubt that a community which had such high literacy, talent and discipline was bound to continue on the path of advancement and growth.
Heaping praise on the contributions made by the Zoroastrian leaders to India over the centuries, the President said: “Zoroastrian community in India has always extended itself to reach the highest echelons of achievement and success in the fields of business, industry, art and letters, leading our defence forces and breaking new frontiers in the field of advanced science and technology”.
Recalling that many national leaders of Zoroastrian faith led the charge against colonialism, the President made a special mention of Madame Bhikaji Cama, who fearlessly unfurled what she called the ‘Flag of Indian Independence’.
The President also underlined the significant contributions made by Dr Homi Bhabha and Dr Homi Sethna who developed India’s Nuclear energy programme, and several distinguished military officers like Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, Admiral Jal Cursetji, Air Marshal Aspy Engineer and Air Marshall Fali H Major. He also remembered JRD Tata who founded India’s first commercial airline.
Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Maharashtra Rural Developmment Minister Jayant Patil were also present on the occasion. Earlier Dr Cyrus S Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India ltd welcomed the President.
The World Zoroastrian Congress is being held in Mumbai after a gap of 23 years. The Congress is held once every four years. And it provides the community a forum to discuss its socio-economic development, history, religion and other issues facing the community.
The theme of this Congress is “Zoroastrianism in the 21st century: Nurturing Growth and Affirming Identity”. The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress hosted by the
Bombay Parsi Panchayat is being attended by prominent persons from different walks of life from all over the world.