Awards

The 2014 Awards are Announced ! Read More…

FEZANA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our community in North America through The FEZANA Awards

  • Award Terms of Reference
  • Recent Awardees: 2014 | 2012

The Awards are administered by FEZANA’s Awards Committe.

Dr. Noshir Langrana and Adil Mistry currently head this committee.

History of the Awards

The first North American Zarathushti Community Awards were presented at the Sixth North merican Zoroastrian Congress, which was held in Toronto, Canada, in 1988. Since then, North American Zarathushti Community Awards have been presented biennially at each North American Zoroastrian Congress.

Before 1998, the awards process was the responsibility of the FEZANA member association hosting the Congress. However, in 1998, in order to ensure consistency in judging and regularity of administering the awards, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) took over the responsibility and created an Awards Committee with Dinshaw F. Joshi appointed as its chair. Under Mr. Joshi’s leadership, the Awards Committee developed a standard nomination procedure, and established the Terms of Reference for the awards process.

Five award categories were initially formulated along with their definitions and criteria, and an impartial judging process was created. A sixth award category – the Dinshaw F. Joshi Excellence in Performing Arts, Painting or Literature Award – was added in 2002. This year, a seventh award category was created – the North American Mobeds Council (NAMC) Community Services Award.

Independent panels of respected North American Zarathushtis judge the nominees for the original six awards, and a committee appointed by the NAMC judges the nominees for the NAMC Community Services Award. The Awards Committee coordinates the evaluation process, tabulates the results, and determines the winner based solely on the judges’ evaluations.

In addition to Mr. Joshi, past committee chairs have included Yasmin Pavri and Framroze Patel. Currently, Shehernaz Joshi Verahrami and Navroz Gandhi.

Award Categories

Rohinton Rivetna Outstanding Zarathushti Award

To recognize a Zarathushti who has made outstanding and well-recognized contributions, through outstanding leadership and service, to further the cause of Zarathushtis in North America and internationally. Such contributions can be in, among other things, Zarathushti history, theology, culture, religious education, community affairs, and interfaith activities.

Recipients
1988 Mr. Minoo Dastoor
1990 Mrs. Roshan Rivetna & Mr. Rohinton Rivetna
1992 Mr. Homi Davier
1994 Dr. Dolly Dastoor
1996 Mr. Homi Minocher-Homji
1998 Mrs. Farangis K. Shahrokh
2002 Mr. Kayomarsh P. Mehta
2004 Mr. Framroze Patel
2007 Mrs. Khorshed F. Jungalwala
2010 Ervad (Dr.) Soli P. Dastur
2012 Mr. Firdosh D. Mehta
2014 Mr. Sam Vesuna

 

Dinshaw Framroze Joshi Excellence in Performing Arts, Painting or Literature Award

To recognize a Zarathushti who has excelled in the performing arts (dance, music and drama), painting or literature, and whose achievements have been recognized by peers within his/her country of residence and internationally.

Recipients
2002 Ms. Bapsi Sidhwa
2004 Mr. Farobag Cooper
2007 Mr. Dinyar J. Vania
2010 Ms. Kayhan Irani
2012 Mr. Rohinton Mistry
2014 Ms. Arzan Gonda

 

Jamshed and Shirin Guzdar Excellence in Business or Profession Award

To recognize a Zarathushti who has reached the pinnacle of prominence in his/her profession or business, and whose achievements have been recognized in both North America and internationally.

 

Recipients
1990 Mr. Meherwan Boyce
1992 Mr. Jamshed Mavalwala

Mr. Mehli Mehta

1994 Dr. Jehan Bagli
1996 Mrs. Mehroo Jussawalla

Mr. Adi Dastur

1998 Dr. Yasmin Thanavala
2002 Mr. Firdaus Bhathena
2004 Dr. Dhun Noria
2007 Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna
2010 Dr. Noshir A. Langrana
2012 Dr. Firdaus S. Dhabhar

Dr. Shahrokh Khanizadeh

2014 Dr. Dinshaw J. Patel

 

Jamshed Pavri Humanitarian Service Award

To recognize a Zarathushti who has made significant contributions in advancing social and humanitarian causes in general and for the Zarathushti community in particular, and whose humanitarian service achievements have been acknowledged in his/her local community, in North America and internationally.

Recipients
1990 Mrs. Sabar E. Patel

Mrs. Paridokht Zartoshty & Ervad Mehraban Zartoshty

1992 Mr. Rustom Irani
1994 Mr. Minoo Treasuryvala
1996 Mrs. Katy Driver
1998 Mrs. Yasmin Ghadiali & Mr. Jamshed Ghadiali
2002 Ms. Bella Tata
2004 Mrs. Mehru Cama & Dr. Lovji Cama
2007 Dr. Russi D. Balsara
2010 Mr. Farrokh Namdaran
2012 Ms. Freyaz K. Shroff
2014 Mrs. Nazneen Spliedt

 

Shirin Nariman Dastoor Outstanding Young Zarathushti Student Award

To recognize a young Zarathushti student, 30 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2014, who is studying at the university level, has achieved academic excellence in his/her scholastic studies and extracurricular activities, and has made substantial contributions to the community affairs of his/her local Zarathushti community.

Recipients
1988 Mr. Zubin J. Panthaky
1990 Mr. Neville M. Billimoria
1992 Ms. Shanaya Deboo

Mr. Murzban F. Morris

1994 Dr. Cyrus Hirjibehedin
1996 Mr. Arash Anoshiravani
1998 Mr. Phiroz Tarapore
2004 Mr. Boman Irani
2007 Ms. Anahita Dua
2010 Mr. Dinyar Patel
2012 Ervad Bahrom F. Firozgary
2014 Persis Bhadha

Ervad Poruz Khambatta

Mehraban Zartoshty Outstanding Young Zarathushti Award

To recognize a young Zarathushti, 30 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2012, who, after achieving high grades as a student in his/her scholastic studies and extracurricular activities, has subsequently achieved excellence in his/her chosen profession, is deemed to be a rising star by his/her peers, and has made substantial contributions to the community affairs of both his/her local Zarathushti community and the North American Zarathushti community.

1988 Prof. Jamsheed Choksy
1990 Mr. Sarosh V. Kanga
1992 Mr. Mehran Sepehri
1994 Mr. Darius Bagli
1998 Mrs. Parastu Dubash

Mr. Orang Demehry

2002 Ms. Sherazade Mehta
2004 Ms. Susan Karani
2007 Mr. Dinsha F. Mistree
2012 Mr. Narius K. Dastur

 

North American Mobeds Council Community Services Award

To recognize a young Zarathushti Mobed or Mobedyar, 35 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2014, who has provided exemplary services to the Zarathushti community.

Recipients
2012 Ervad Zerkxis Z. Bhandara
2014 Ervad Rayomand Ravji

Paradise Award

The Paradise Award recognizes an individual or group who has contributed to spreading the message of Asho Zarathushtra through the composition of an artistic and educational play, poem or song capable of being transcribed on film, video and/or DVD for dissemination among the Zarathushti communities in North America and internationally.

Previous recipients

2000 Ms. Mandana Edalati
Ms. Mehrbanoo Poulad-Noshirvan
Mr. Shervin Shahriari
2002 Ms. Tenaz Dubash

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a highly-respected North American Zarathushti, who through his/her personal achievements and meritorious service has brought recognition to the Zarathushti community worldwide.

1990 Mr. Zubin Mehta
1996 Prof. Kaikhosrov D. Irani
2002 Dr. Farhang Mehr
2007 Ambassador Jamsheed K. A. Marker
2017 Ervad Dr. Jehan Bagli

FEZANA represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in North America.

Guided by the blessings of AHURA MAZDA and the teachings of our Prophet Zarathushtra; the Federation was founded in 1987 It serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 14 Corresponding Groups in the United States and Canada.

The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and unity amongst all Member associations, and with due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST and CHARITY towards all Mankind.

:+: Baname Khoda Kshnothro Ahura Mazda