Here’s a great synopsis of Zoroastrian history. Thanks to Nawaz B. Mody for permitting us to reproduce some of the material from her publication “Enduring Legacy – Parsis of the 20th Century” Vol. I & II.
Please note: This ZIP download is approximately 48 MB.
Originally published on November 8, 2006 by NY Daily News
BY CARLOS RODRIGUEZ MARTORELL
From Harlem to the streets of Baghdad, all the world’s a stage for actress, playwright and “artivist” Kayhan Irani — literally.
The dreamy-eyed 28-year-old New Yorker of Indian descent has been involved in dozens of plays and artistic actions advocating social justice. Her celebrated one-woman show, “We’ve Come Undone,” has toured colleges and community centers nationwide.
The series of monologues first staged in 2003 portrays the struggles faced by Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities following 9/11 in a suddenly hostile America. For instance, a young girl experiences bewilderment at her father’s disappearance after being interrogated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Continue Reading
View the video here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483
Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated.
Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia, Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.
The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.
Dinyar Vania is making his lead tenor role debut with the New York City Opera in the role of Rudolfo in La Boheme.
It will be staged at the N.Y. State Theatre at Lincoln Center at:
More information can be found at the NYC Opera website.
As published in Yahoo! News India.
Indian-born Western classical music conductor Zubin Mehta is among the five stalwarts from the arts and entertainment field who will be honoured by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this year.
Apart from Mehta, others who have been named in the 2006 list for their contribution to American culture are musical theatre composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, country singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson, and film director and producer Steven Spielberg.