Shahnaz Shahzadi, social and religious activist, one of the founders of the Yaneshvaran Mantra Association, founder of the Gathapooyan group, and a long-time co-organizer of the Mantra conference, passed away, in Yazd.
Shahnaz Shahzadi was born on Mehr 30, 1334 (Oct 23, 1951) and passed away on 5th Tir 1402 (June 26, 2023) after many years on invaluable service to the Zoroastrian community. The funeral ceremony was held on Wednesday, Tir 7, at 17:00 at the Zoroastrian Cemetery in Taft.
Shahnaz Shahzadi, daughter of Khavar and Rostam, spent her childhood in Zeinabad village. She attended Shirin Bagh Khandan primary school, and for high school she went to Yazd city. She became interested in reading religious books since childhood. She has been interested in reading religious books since her school days. She started learning the Dindabireh script (Pahlavi) in high school and learned the Dindabireh script using self-study books. After getting her diploma, she joined the army as a teacher and taught students in the villages of Yazd. She passed the recruitment exam and started working in Yazd University of Medical Sciences in 1358 (1979). With her clerical skills, she was given the responsibility of setting up the finance office and also did accounting. After a few years, she was assigned as responsible accountant.
One of the notable religious activities of Shahnaz Shahzadi was founding of the Gathapouyan group, in 1362 (1983), an institution for Zoroastrian youth in Yazd, and 10 years later, helping to found the Yaneshvaran Mantra Association. n 1358 (1979) when the Association for Zoroastrian Religion was activated for organizing religious classes, compiling religious books and training religion teachers, she assumed the position of secretary of the Association and was also responsible for the education Zoroastrian boys and girls in religion. In 1372 (1993), with the organization of the Mantra Conference competitions by the Zoroastrian Students Association, Ravanshad Shahzadi prepared a group to participate in the Mantra Conference at the suggestion of Mrs. Khadim. With the help of teachers in Tehran and Yazd, she held classes in Yazd villages and helped prepare articles for the participants of the Gathaology section of the Mantra conference.
Even when she was ill, Shahnaz continued to eagerly participate in the programs. She was responsible for organizing the first group Navjote in Yazd, in 1359 (1980), and with her efforts, a Navjote ceremony for 33 Zoroastrian teenagers was held in Kheikhosrow Hall. She was a volunteer workers, and as a trusted liaison of the Zoroastrian student Association, she coordinated volunteer programs in Yazd. The Zoroastrian language center’s foundation is one of her other cultural works. The purpose of establishing the Zoroastrian Language Center was to provide Zoroastrian students with high-quality education, low tuition fee and Zoroastrian teachers. The activity of this center did not continue.
In recognition of the continuous efforts of Shahnaz Shahzadi, the Gathapooyan group, on behalf of the Zoroastrian youth, thanked this learned lady and experienced religion teacher, on the occasion of Esfandgan celebration, in 1397 (2018). Shahzadi had devoted much of her life to religious and social activities, and she spent hours thinking about whether he should continue this way and pay the price for it. She concluded: “I will be happy if I know that someone will continue my way”. This sentence gave her motivation and strength.
Prof. Sara Stewart thanks Shahnaz Shahzadi
Prof. Sara Stewart, head of the Zoroastrianism department of SOAS University in London and a researcher of the history and culture of Iranian Zoroastrians, expressed her gratitude towards Shahnaz Shahzadi and honored this learned lady for her valuable efforts in the project of studies in connection with Iranian Zoroastrians. The results of these academic studies were published in two volumes by the University of London.
The majority of the interviews were carried out over a period of three years by a highly respected member of the Zoroastrian community in Yazd and a teacher of Zoroastrianism, Ms Shahnas Shahzadi.
I owe my thanks to all those who gave their time so generously to talk about their religion and life in Iran. I am especially grateful to Ms Shahnas Shahzadi for conducting the interviews with sensitivity and humor, and for her dedication to this project.
Sarah Stewart
Voices from Zoroastrian Iran
Oral Texts and Testimony
Vol.1:Urban Centers
In collaboration with Mandana Moavenat
2018
Harrassowitz Verlag. Wiesbaden
