Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) is a religious, cultural and social organisation for Zoroastrians residing in Europe, mainly the United Kingdom. It was founded on 31 October 1861 by Muncherjee Hormusji Cama and Dadabhai Naoroji.[1][2]

Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe
AbbreviationZTFE
Formation1861
FoundersMuncherjee Hormusji Cama and Dadabhai Naoroji
Registration no.277185
HeadquartersThe Zoroastrian Centre, 440 Alexandra Ave, London
Region
Europe 51°34′26.74″N 0°22′14.98″W
WebsiteThe Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe official website

At the time of its founding, it was reported that there were approximately fifty Zoroastrians present in England who were mainly students. However, Zoroastrians have been present in the United Kingdom long before the foundation of the ZTFE; the first known Parsi arrival being Nowroji Rustom Maneck Sett (Nowroji Rustomji) in 1721[3] or 1724.[4] Currently there are around 5,000 members of the ZTFE.

The secretariat and principal venue attached to the organisation is Zoroastrian Centre located in the Rayners Lane area of Harrow. The centre is the Grade II* listed Art Deco former Ace Cinema.[5][6]

Additionally, the ZTFE also manage the "Parsee burial ground" established in 1862, at Brookwood Cemetery which is the only operating Zoroastrian burial ground in Europe.

Zoroastrian graves at Brookwood Cemetery
Zoroastrian building at Brookwood Cemetery

Notable visitors to The Zoroastrian Centre in recent years include Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Dr Rowan Williams; the Archbishop of Canterbury; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.[7][8][9]

History

The first formal move to organise the growing Parsi community in the United Kingdom was from Muncherjee Cama, who was joined by Dadabhai Naoroji in a circular letter to the fifty Parsis they knew to be in London in 1861.[10] The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe was initially founded as Europena Zarthost Dharmanu Khatu (The Religious Funds of the Zoroastrians in Europe in Gujarati), in Kensington, London; the first meeting was attended by fifteen Parsis at Cama's residence at 24 Devonshire Terrace.[11]

The Religious Funds of the Zoroastrians of Europe existed to purchase land for the burial of the dead; to help stranded or destitute Zoroastrians; to purchase and produce books on Zoroastrianism; to fund research on Zoroastrianism; to establish a 'House of Prayer'; and as a general fund for miscellaneous expenses. Under its regulations four of the seven managing trustees were to be students, with other members representing the association at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh.

Whilst the association initially consisted of Parsis only, they were active in campaigning for the rights of the persecuted Zoroastrians in Iran. Dadabhai Naoroji and Mancherjee Bhownagree, both presidents of the ZTFE and MPs, addressed the House of Commons on this issue. On the six occasions Shah Naser al-Din Shah Qajar visited London, Parsi delegations from the ZTFE were present to advocate for their Iranian co-religionists suffering intense persecution under the Qajar dynasty.[12]

See also

References
  1. Rose, Jenny. Zoroastrianism: A Guide for the Perplexed.
  2. Palsetia, Jesse S. The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City.
  3. Chatterji, Joya; Washbrook, David (3 January 2014). Routledge Handbook of the South Asian Diaspora. Routledge. ISBN 9781136018244.
  4. "Rustom Maneck of Surat (1635–1721 CE). Intercessor Extraordinaire". Heritage Institute.
  5. Historic England, "ACE Cinema (1079729)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 19 June 2017
  6. "In pictures: 20 years of saving London's buildings". BBC. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  7. Proctor, Ian (6 October 2011). "Prince Philip 'delighted' to attend Harrow Zoroastrian association's 150th anniversary". Get West London. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  8. "Archbishop makes first official visit to a Zoroastrian place of worship". Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  9. "ZTFE News 2009" (PDF).
  10. John R. Hinnells (28 April 2005). The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration. OUP Oxford. p. 388. ISBN 978-0-19-826759-1. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. Hinnells, John. The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration.
  12. Ballard, Roger; Banks, Marcus (1994). Desh Pardesh: The South Asian Presence in Britain. ISBN 9781850650928.
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