WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a moving tribute to a lifetime of global activism and spiritual leadership, the Zoroastrian community joined scholars and changemakers at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum on March 31, 2026. The occasion marked the official launch of Zerbanoo Gifford’s latest work, A Call to Consciousness, and her appointment as a Founding Fellow of the One Humanity Lab.
The event was a significant moment for the Parsi and Irani diaspora, with community members traveling from across the United States, Canada, and Britain to witness one of their most celebrated figures receive international academic recognition.
A “Remedy” of Clarity and Action
The proceedings were opened by Dr. Ina Gjikondi, Founder of the One Humanity Lab at GW’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Dr. Gjikondi spoke warmly of Gifford’s unique presence, describing what she calls “the Zerbanoo remedy.”
“My grandmother used to say: the light does not announce itself. It simply makes everything visible,” Dr. Gjikondi remarked. “When I met Zerbanoo Gifford—I understood exactly what my grandmother meant. She brings the background into the foreground.”
Leading from a Place of Wholeness
Gifford, a pioneer who has spent decades at the forefront of human rights and interfaith dialogue, delivered a powerful address centered on courage. Drawing on a profound near-death experience, she spoke of the clarity found at the “liminal edges” of life.
“Fear is a choice. Courage is also a choice,” Gifford told the assembled guests. “Once you have stood at the edge of everything and returned, you understand that there is nothing left worth being afraid of.”
The afternoon also featured reflections from Maestro Zane Dalal, who used the metaphor of an orchestra to describe leadership. He noted that true “wholeness” in a community or an organization is not about making everyone the same, but about a “conductor” who listens deeply enough to bring distinct voices into one harmonious sound—a sentiment that resonated deeply with the Zoroastrian ethos of Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta.
The Mystic Crystal
In a poignant concluding ceremony, Zerbanoo was presented with the Mystic Crystal, the One Humanity Lab’s symbol for leaders who bridge disparate traditions. The crystal, featuring blue and clear light twisting into a single form, represents the unity and moral clarity Gifford has championed throughout her career as the founder of the ASHA Centre in the UK.
About the Book: A Call to Consciousness
A Call to Consciousness is described as Gifford’s most urgent work, distilling a lifetime of activism into a guide for moral dignity. The book has achieved a rare level of global consensus, carrying endorsements from over 40 religious and humanitarian leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and representatives from the Zoroastrian, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths.
The book is dedicated to HRH King Charles III and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, reflecting Gifford’s high-level influence in the intersection of spiritual and public life.
How to Support
Proceeds from the book support the ongoing work of the One Humanity Lab, sustaining fellowships and programs that cultivate ethical leadership.
The Zoroastrian community is encouraged to support this landmark publication. The book is currently available on Amazon, and the Lab emphasizes that even brief honest reviews help the book reach a wider global audience of educators and changemakers.
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Order on Amazon: https://a.co/d/03FDtRwa
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Learn more about Zerbanoo’s work: www.zerbanoogifford.org | www.ashacentre.org
