Homi Gandhi and Ruzbeh Hodiwala from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London attended the screening of an award-winning documentary ‘Black Orchard’ at the Azerbaijan consulate in Los Angeles, USA. The documentary is a production of TRT World’s (Turkish State International News) Mr. Oubai Shahbandar who embeds with the Azerbaijan military and travels to the frontlines with Armenia, where the two rivals were involved in territorial conflict and are at the loggerheads over Armenia’s occupation of the Karabakh region in southwestern Azerbaijan. The screening was followed by Q&A with Mr. Oubai Shahbandar, and director, Mr. Atakan Kerkukly. The event which was attended by the consular general(s) of Turkey, UAE, Ecuador, Switzerland among others ended with a dinner hosted by the Consul General of Azerbaijan, Mr. Nasimi Aghayev who also serves as the dean of the Los Angeles Consular Corps.

Both the Zoroastrian representatives had a delightful interaction with the consul general of Azerbaijan who is well versed with the Zoroastrian heritage of the country and would like more Zoroastrians to visit Azerbaijan. Ruzbeh who is a doctoral researcher at SOAS, University of London and is about to visit Azerbaijan in February 2020, had a constructive interaction with the consul general regarding the Atashgahs of Azerbaijan.

Article submitted by Ruzbeh Hodiwala
Photo credit:  Homi Gandhi