The Global Council of Zoroastrians Trust (GCZT) has announced a Rs 10 crore contribution from Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, describing it as the Trust’s first major donation and a milestone that will help it begin activating programs focused on community wellbeing.
In a statement GCZT said the contribution is directed toward the Trust’s corpus and will support the launch of initiatives currently under development. Among the early ideas cited are proposals for free insurance support for those in need and targeted assistance for mobeds in India—areas where community leaders have long noted the importance of reliable, practical support.
GCZT, which describes itself as a public trust dedicated to the welfare and prosperity of Zoroastrians worldwide, has stated that its initial attention will be centered on India, even as it builds a global framework for collaboration. On its website, GCZT notes that it was formed in December 2020 and later registered with the charity authorities in Mumbai, establishing a formal structure intended to support transparent, coordinated community work.
The Trust’s stated vision is to nurture “a caring, compassionate and harmonious” Parsi, Irani and Iranian Zoroastrian community worldwide, and its mission emphasizes creating a platform for community members to work together for shared prosperity. GCZT also describes a bicameral structure that includes a Board of Trustees and a Global Working Group (GWG) with regional representatives, aimed at ensuring both governance and broad-based participation across regions.
Leadership and structure
GCZT’s first chairman was Dr. Burjorji Antia, who, according to the Trust’s statement, worked to complete the registration process with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai. The current chairman is Neville Shroff of Hong Kong.
The Trust has identified three settlors: Dinshaw Tamboly and Kersy Bhesania, along with Dr. Antia. The trustees listed by GCZT include Neville Shroff, Dr. Antia, Rohinton Rivetna, Sam Balsara, Yazdi Tantra, Meher Bhesania, Viraf Mehta, Kayomarz Sidhwa, and Malcolm Deboo.
GCZT has also named a group of advisors supporting the Trust’s work, including Rati Godrej, Homi Katgara, Noshir Dadrawala, Dorab Mistry, Adi Jehangir, Homiyar Madan, and Arzan Wadia.
Looking ahead
While GCZT has not yet released a detailed rollout timeline for new programs, the Trust’s announcement frames the donation as the kind of foundational support that allows early initiatives to move from planning to implementation—especially in areas like health security for vulnerable individuals and welfare measures for priests who serve communities across India.
The Trust also extended thanks to those who helped facilitate the meeting with the donor, offering special acknowledgment to Rusi Dalal for arranging the introduction.
For updates on GCZT’s work and announcements, visit https://gczt.org
