This page contains an archive of all the events that the Zoroastrian APPG has held in Parliament and elsewhere.
Marking the centenary of the death of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji
The 22nd of March 2018 was a momentous occasion for the Zoroastrian all-party parliamentary group. At 16:00 Zoroastrians gathered in the House of Lords Committee Room 5 for the centenary commemoration of the death of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Zoroastrian/Indian to be elected into British parliament (1892). The meeting was hosted and presided over by Lord Karan Bilimoria, Co-Chair of the Zoroastrian APPG, and to mark the occasion the group had arranged for three speakers to present essays to the APPG. These speakers included Dr Vikram Visana with his paper ‘Never say die!: Dadabhai Naoroji’s Indianisation of British politics’, Mr Daniel Hunt MA, discussing ‘The British political careers and historical legacies of Dadabhai Naoroji’. And thirdly, speaker Dr Kusoom Vadgama spoke on ‘Naoroji: the Icon of Indian Nationalism.
All three speakers combined personal interest, with intellect and objective truths to produce three truly touching tributes to Naoroji and his lifelong pursuit of Indian interests, and relations. A key theme of all three was Naoroji’s benevolence and philanthropic work as a true Zoroastrian, and his abilities as a skilful politician to manoeuvre through the turbulent atmosphere of parliament enabling the voices of Indians globally to be heard. Naoroji didn’t allow the power of the Empire to distort his views, rather he stood up to the mistreatment of India by the Empire, and actively aimed to correct the Empires faults.
Touching words from Ms T. Ajungla Jamir, Councellor (Political & Extradition) at the Indian High Commission, and closing remarks from Mr Malcom Deboo, President Zoroastrian Trust Funds Europe (ZTFE). Lord Karan Bilimoria thanked the Parliamentary group, and touching final words were delivered from Dr Vadgama who had the room in total suspense with a quote from Naoroji himself, “I am a Hindu, a Muslim, a Parsi, but above all an Indian”. A true citizen of India, but also of Britain, he deserves to be remembered as the greatest patriot of India in the last century.
Report written by Rory Newman
Celebration of the Life of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji
On October 18th the Zoroastrian APPG, in collaboration with the History of Parliament, celebrated the life of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Indian MP, at an event in Portcullis House.
The event included a discussion with a distinguished panel including His Excellency the High Commissioner of India Mr YK Sinha, our main speaker the Lord Parekh, the Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government Lord Bourne, the Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, our Chairman Gareth Thomas MP, Gordon Marsden MP (on behalf of the HPT) and the President of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe Mr Malcolm Deboo who also spoke on behalf of Lord Bilimoria who was sadly unable to attend due to his health.
The event was an enormous success with a strong attendance and interest from both Houses and the general public.
For further information on the event please see the link below to a write up by the History of Parliament:
https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/naoroji-the-life-of-the-first-indian-mp/
Marking the Contribution of British Indians to UK Parliament and Lord Bilimoria’s 10 Year Anniversary
Wednesday 2nd November 2016
On the 2nd November, the Zoroastrian All-Party Parliamentary Group hosted an iconic event to mark the contribution of British Indians to UK Parliament, on the eve of Lord Karan Bilimoria’s 10 year anniversary of being appointed a Peer in the House of Lords.
The event was a full house, with over 10 speakers providing their thoughts on Lord Bilimoria’s milestone and the broader contribution of British Indians to UK Parliament. Please click on this link provided to access Amit Roy’s article in the Eastern Eye that marked the occasion.
Faith-based Ethics in Business – The Cadbury and the Tata way.
Monday 25th April 2016
On the 25 April, we hosted the first All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting of the year. We were privileged to have David Landsman OBE, Head of Tata in the UK, and Sir Dominic Cadbury, Former Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes, give their thoughts on faith-based ethics in business.
Zoroastrian APPG Cyrus the Great Day celebration
Monday 26th October 2015
The event centred on Cyrus the Great Day, the day when Cyrus entered Babylon, while also focusing on the similarities between Cyrus’ achievements, such as his Cylinder, and the Magna Carta – which celebrates its 800th anniversary this year.
Dr Rashna Writer, a former lecturer on Zoroastrianism in Ancient and Modern Worlds at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), gave a lecture at the event and she was joined by Professor Almut Hintze FBA, also of SOAS, and Dr John E. Curtis OBE FBA,of the British Library.
The lectures focused on the importance of the Magna Carta, often described as the origin of Parliamentary Constitutionalism, and Cyrus Cylinder, known by many as the origin of Human Rights, and the way in which both documents inform the modern parliament of today.
Zoroastrian APPG AGM 2015
Wednesday 17th June 2015
Wednesday 17th June saw the Zoroastrian APPG’s first annual general meeting (AGM) of the new Parliament. The AGM was held at Committee Room 8 in the House of Lords and was well attended, with a number of prominent members of the Parsi community present.
The meeting determined the Zoroastrian APPG agenda for the next year and also held the election of officers. The Zoroastrian Trust Fund for Europe (ZTFE) agreed to continue their secretarial role for the group and congratulated the parliamentarians on their recent re-election to Parliament, as well as thanking those present for their participation in the APPG and for their wider work to promote the interests of the Zoroastrian faith and community.
Celebration of Jamsheedi Nowruz – Zoroastrian Iranian Spring New Year
April 1st 2014
4-6pm Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL and Gareth Thomas MP held a Zoroastrian All Party Parliamentary Group celebration for Zoroastrian Iranian New Year, which took place in the Boothroyd Room of Portcullis House.
The guest of honour was His Excellency, Mr Ranjan Mathai, the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.
Zoroastrian APPG Launch
Monday 14th October 2013
The launch of the first-ever Zoroastrian All Party Parliamentary Group took place on Monday 14th October, 2013 in the historic surroundings of the Members’ Dining Room in the Houses of Parliament.
For more information – please click here.