The 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (8WZYC) was held in London from July 21st - 26th 2023. After 27 years the World Zoroastrian Youth Congress returned to London, where it galvanised over 515 Young Zoroastrians from over 15 different countries.
The Zoroastrian faith, which has endured for over 3500 years, carries a profound message of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. In a world increasingly divided, with a current population of only around 200,000, it is crucial to gather the next generation to ensure the survival and development of this ancient religion. The 8WZYC aimed to host a variety of speaker sessions, workshops and social events to foster diversity and inclusion within the Zoroastrian community.
The congress reignited connections by inspiring young Zoroastrians to address the challenges of dwindling numbers and leverage their diverse population. Over 70 distinguished speakers shared insights on various topics, including inter-faith marriage, LGBTQ+ relationships, conversion, and the achievements of young Zoroastrians in media, arts, and sports.
In addition to the enriching sessions, evening events provided a platform for youth to network, engage, and explore different aspects of their identity. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience Persian dancing and instrumental performances, fostering connections that transcend borders and amplify the global voice of Zoroastrianism.
The 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress promised to be a transformative experience, uniting young Zoroastrians from around the world and empowering them to shape the future of their community. The event not only celebrated the rich heritage of the Zoroastrian faith but also inspired the next generation to embrace its values and contribute to a more united and sustainable world.
Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL told Asian Voice, “It was a privilege for me to be the keynote speaker at the 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress Gala dinner held at the Guildhall in the City of London on the 23rd of July. There were over 500 young Zoroastrians from all over the world. This is the 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress, being held in London, in conjunction with Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, the oldest Asian faith based voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, founded in 1861.
“There was a tremendous atmosphere. The Congress was opened on the 22nd by Sir Ron Kalifa and His Excellency the High Commissioner of India, Vikram Doraswami, spoke at the event as well. I quoted the High Commissioner in my speech saying that ‘the Zoroastrian Parsees are a community we admire more and who have contributed more and disproportionately’, he also said that they are ‘the most successful community that India has ever seen’.
“In my speech I spoke about the amazing achievements of this community, which was started by the profit Zoroaster 3,500 years ago. I then spoke of the achievements going back to Cyrus the Great, 2,500 years ago, achievements during British rule and since Independence right until today, where I gave the example that on Saturday I had drove past the brand new secretariat building in Hyderabad built by Shapoorji Pallonji, the Parsee construction company and the new Parliament building built in Delhi by the Tatas and here in the UK the announcement that the Tatas through their company Jaguar Land Rover will be building a Giga factory in Somerset.
“I spoke to the Zoroastrian youth about the importance of integrity for which the Zoroastrian community is renowned. I spoke to them of trust, entrepreneurship and guts (while recalling the entrepreneurial journey of starting my business, Cobra Beer, from scratch, a brand which I am proud to say is now a household name in the UK), leadership through adversity, the importance of family values, the importance of education, the importance of hard work and how that it is not good enough to be the best in the world but also being the best for the world; something the Zoroastrian Parsees have always done, putting back not only into their own community but into the wider community.
“As Mahatma Ghandhi said about our community, ‘Parsee thy name is charity’ and he also said ‘in numbers beneath contempt and in contribution beyond compare’. I encouraged the Zoroastrian youth around the world to be proud of our tiny community and wished them good luck, with the best definition of luck being ‘when determination meets opportunity’. I told them to ‘aspire and achieve against all odds with integrity’ and to believe in themselves because to paraphrase the words of Mahatma Ghandhi, ‘your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits form your character and your character determines your destiny’.”
