amordad-news agency of zoroastrian

A prominent Zoroastrian lady:
Farangis Kaykhosrow Shahrokh (Yeganegi) left this world

Farid Shoulizadeh:  I heard the sad news that Farangis Kaykhosrow Shahrokh (Yeganegi), one of the most prominent personalities of Iran, and a Zoroastrian lady, passed away.
Farangis, daughter of Arbab Kaykhosrow Shahrokh and Firoozeh Farrahi, was born in 1916, in Tehran.  Her education upto the 9th grade, was in Iraj Zoroastrian school.  She then continued education in Sage College, the American College in Tehran, and obtained graduate certificate.  In the same year, she started studying in the College of Literature, Tehran University, and completed the 4 year course.  She continued her studies in Social Work in USC California.
In 1933, Farangis Shahrokh married Ardeshir Yeganegi, and had three children by the names of Firoozeh, Parviz and Kambiz.  Late Ardeshir Yeganegi was one of the pioneers in industry, in Iran.  In 1935, he founded the first electric power foundation in Iran with hydroelectric system, on Abbassabad Hill, in Hamedan.  He also established the first ice cream factory and the first cold drink factory in Tehran with equipment and cold storage system imported from Russia.  The first leather factory of Iran, established 75 years ago, was another of the industrial innovations of Ardeshir Yeganegi in Iran.  This factory is presently converted into a hostel for students in Hamedan.  Now-a-days, in Hamedan city, Ardeshir Yeganegi is well remembered by all, for his entrepreneurship, creativity and philanthropic activities.  Ardeshir Yeganegi died of diabetes in 1953.
In 1958, Farangis Shahrokh established a library inside the then Anjuman of Ancient Iranian Culture, in the name of Ardeshir Yeganegi and donated it to Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman (the undersigned has benefited tremendously from this library in the past 11 years).
All through her fruitful life Farangis performed great services for Iranians and especially for the Zoroastrian community.  Among them the Zoroastrian Women Organization can be named.  She was selected, first, as honorary chairperson and then honorary president of the Organization.  Farangis was also one of the founders of the Anjuman of Ancient Iranian Culture.
During her stay in Iran Farangis did great services for improving the state of living of Iranian women.  Among these services her efforts to improve the condition of women’s prisons is noteworthy.  By training and educating the social workers and employees of those prisons she helped to improve the state of living of the women in prisons.  Farangis Yeganegi was one of the founders and the first chairperson of “The High Council of Iranian Women”.  She was one of the four ladies selected as the founders’ board of the High Council of Women.  Farangis had earned special respect among the learned and genius society of Iran.  She fought against discrimination and unfairness and was always active in the restoration of Iranian women’s rights.
Farangis Shahrokh can also be called as the reviver of Iranian art and handicraft.  She should rightly be named ‘the mother of Iranian handicraft’.  She was the initiator, planner and the first executive manager of Iranian Handicraft Organization, affiliated to Ministry of economy.  She traveled to the villages for 6 months and gathered samples of handicraft and other artifacts and brought them all under cover of Ministry of economy.
It is a source of pride for the Zoroastrian community that a Zoroastrian lady was leading a huge organization.
After departing Iran and taking residence in USA, Farangis Shahrokh (Yeganegi) was selected as the President and member of Board of Trustees of South California Zoroastrian Center.  In 1986, Farangis initiated in establishing a Zoroastrian marriage office in California Fire Temple and from then onwards marriages of Zoroastrians are officially registered in this office.  The marriage certificates issued by this office are recognized as official documents by California State.  She also established the renowned library named “Yeganegi-Kaykhosrow Shahrokh Library” in California Zoroastrian Center.
In commemoration of the services of Farangis Shahrokh, rendered in the course of her life, Farangis was selected as the best woman of the year and in an official ceremony she was commended in UCLA Los Angeles.  In 1996, she was presented the Medal of Honor by FEZANA.  Her death is a great loss to the community.  May her soul rest in eternal peace.

    Farangis Yeganegi on the right and Tooran Bahrami on the left

 
Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour