Books

Is the Zarathushtrian Religion Universal? by Roni K. Khan. Published in 2001 by H. J. Giara, Dhunmai Building, 667, Lady Jehangir Road, Dadar, Bombay 400014 (Tel: 4166204). Pp: xiii+85. Price: Rs 100.

Roni Khan’s book is appropriately "de­di­cated to the sacred memory of the countless generations of our righteous forbears whose faith and fortitude... (have) made it possible for us, the Parsi/Irani Zarathushtrians of today, to exist as a living race with a living religion.”

The book is obviously a labor of love. The kind of book that one opens with expectations and closes with profit. Faithful to Milton’s description of a good book as "the precious life blood of a master spirit embalmed and treasured on purpose to a life beyond life.” Deep feeling and sound thinking expressed in felicitous language make this book persuasive and also pleasant to read.

The tenets of orthodoxy are expounded from a fresh viewpoint. The Preface starts by emphasizing that the word ‘orthodoxy’ has no sinister connotations but really means "straight or right doctrine.” And the author rightly stresses that "our business should be only with issues and not with personalities.” Rightly also he insists that "it is the Zarathushtrian religion alone which has been able to sustain the Parsi people,” and that we are the "faithful carrier of a unique and tolerant culture.”

The community today faces two major problems — one of quantity, the other of quality. In the first place the number of Zoroastrians (particularly in India) is getting less and less. In the second place this diminishing number is regrettably (with notable exceptions) becoming less and less "Zoroastrian.” The label remains, the substance is wearing thin.

According to Khan, it is now truly a question of survival. The message of the book is simple, and the author summarizes it thus: "There are quarters in the world today where the Parsi race and the Zarathushtrian religion are simultaneously becoming unrecognizable. What both Alexander and the Arabs tried but failed to do, we may yet accomplish by our own hand — God forbid!

"We are talking survival. The message is already writ in large letters on the wall. A few more calculated shoves by heterodox hands and we will go over the brink. This is the ultimate message of this book, albeit between the lines.”

The approach of the book is the approach of the new millennium. Witness some of the headings: "Proof Of The Pudding,” "Diversity In Nature,” "The Ace Turns Into a Joker.”

If one wants to understand certain aspects of our religion and to see a paladin of orthodoxy strive with fervor and felicity to explain and expound in simple language its eternal truths, one has only to buy the book, and spend an hour or two reading it.

Well written and well produced, Is the Zarathushtrian Religion Universal? deserves to be read by as many Zara-thushtrians as are really concerned for their faith today.

NADIR MODI