Mr. Rohinton and Ms. Roshan Rivetna (Masala Chat Project)

Description

Roshan, 77, and Rohinton, 82, Rivetna, are pioneers of the Zoroastrian community in the US, having arrived in the mid-1960s. The interview begins with Roshan alone, and her husband Rohinton joins approximately halfway through. The interview includes detailed discussion of the history, philosophy, and politics of the Zoroastrian faith and their efforts to keep the community connected and strong. The couple discuss their early life in the Parsi community of Bombay, the allure of life in America, and the relative ease with which they were able to establish themselves in Chicago. Roshan has a master’s degree in Nuclear Physics and Rohinton in Mechanical Engineering. Together they brought together the funds to build the first Zororastrian temple in US in Burr Ridge, IL as well as a national network of such organizations. Other topics discussed include: protecting their culture from erasure, participating in neighborhood community organizations, her famous uncle Homi Bhabha, how pleasant and welcoming Americans have been.