Tribute to Dasturji Dr. Peshotan Mirza

Last month, on the 26^th June, Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza, High Priest of Udvada passed away.

I had the great honour of getting to know our Vada Dasturji as he was the priest that accompanied my wife Aban and myself on our Zoroastrian tour of Iran last year.

As a testament to my respect for Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza and his family I felt duty bound to pen my personal tribute for this great Zoroastrian.

Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza, had lost his sight, in addition to his family facing other significant challenges.

Despite all of this, the man lived his life with great purpose and without any mention of his challenges. In fact, not until I was told by a third party was I aware that he was blind.

Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza was a polymath – he had deep knowledge of science and lectured in chemistry, he had deep knowledge of our religion and our history. Most of all, he had deep love for his family. Of all the beautiful places and things we saw in Iran, the most beautiful by far was the aura of love and affection of the Mirza family.

Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza was the living embodiment of Zoroastrianism and there were moments during our tour of Persepolis when walking alongside him, you couldn’t help but feel transported back to the Court of Cyrus the Great.

As a result of being in the company of the Mirza family for those few days on tour in Iran, I now have a deeper understanding of the Zoroastrian resolve and how our people have not only managed to survive great historical adversities but excelled in every walk of life.

It was my great privilege to have known a person of such eminence, dignity, knowledge and grace.

These values live on in his family, by his wife Mahrookh, daughter Aban and son Darayus.

I am a better man for knowing Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza and the world is a better place for having Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan Mirza walk amongst us.

My thoughts are with the family today and may Vada Dasturji Dr Peshotan’s noble soul rest in Garothman Behesht.

With deep love and affection,

Jimmy Suratia.”