The UNESCO Parsi-Zoroastrian project initiated in 1999, is one of the oldest and longest on-going initiatives of UNESCO New Delhi, aimed at the holistic preservation and promotion of Parsi- Zoroastrian culture.
Our Vision
To make known and preserve Zoroastrian culture with its contributions to world culture, history, philosophy, ecology, art, symbolism and craft.
The Parzor project in 2002 developed into the Parzor Foundation and has since functioned independently and in collaboration with social, cultural and educational institutions in keeping with UNESCO guidelines. Parzor, through its areas of function, addresses crucial areas of heritage preservation: conservation of tangible heritage and places of memory, ensuring continuity of knowledge traditions and community well-being.
With persistent effort since inception, Parzor has been able to generate awareness and a revival of interest within the community and India as a whole. The Parsi Zoroastrian community is small enough in number to enable a study such as this covering almost every aspect of community life, but large enough in achievements to warrant such attention.
While the central focus remains to highlight the Parsi Zoroastrian community globally and draw international attention to this small but vibrant band of survivors from an ancient tradition, Parzor has strived to maintain a global and neutral perspective and has also to its credit multiple projects that contribute to minority communities, marginalisation studies and the preservation of all heritage that is identified as vulnerable human heritage in an increasingly pluralistic world.
Meet the Teams
Our Founding President
Lieutenant General Adi Meherji Sethna, PVSM, AVSM was an Indian Army General who served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He guided the Delhi Parsi Anjuman and the Federation of Zoroastrian Anjumans for 20 years, and in 1999 was invited to be the Founder President of Parzor.
Lt. Gen. Adi M. Sethna steered Parzor from the time of its inception and enabled it to grow rapidly and make a mark in a very short time. It was under his dynamic leadership, that Parzor initiated several projects which ranged from making a film on Field Marshal Manekshaw and producing a book on India’s first woman Photojournalist Homai Vyarawala to recording rare Hindustani classical music Tappas.
Founding Patrons
Dr. L.M. Singhvi
Indian jurist, parliamentarian, scholar, writer and diplomat; the second-longest-serving High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom. He was conferred Padma Bhushan in 1998.
Late Mr. Jamshed Guzder
Philanthropist, eminent industrialist and community veteran. Late Mr Guzder was Former President of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Bombay, the Indian National Committee of the International Chambers of Commerce, Paris, and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce among other important financial bodies.
Mr. Fali Nariman
Mr Dinshaw Tamboly
Dr. Karan Singh, MP
Mr. Minoo Shroff
Mr. Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej
Executive Council
Dr Shernaz Cama
Prof. Armaity S. Desai
Mr Dadi Pudumjee
Mrs Ava Khullar
Dr (Mrs) Niloufer Shroff
Prof. Kavas Kapadia
Ashdeen Z. Lilaowala
The Core Team
Dr Shernaz Cama
Dr (Mrs) Niloufer Shroff
Ms Sanha Kohli
Ms Mahtab Irani
Digital Editor
Ms Neeru Negi
Secretary