Census alarm

It was in Bardoli that Mahatma Gandhi started his agitation to oust the British from India. How significant that the wake-up call for all Parsis too has tolled from this very place. Mahatma Gandhi was successful in his mission, I wonder whether we will be as fortunate.

According to statistical data beautifully presented by the census commissioner of India, J. A. K. Banthia, at the executive council meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India every Parsi member needs to seriously note and take drastic reversible steps just to see that by the year 2050 we don’t get the tag of ‘had been.’ His talk was a direct appeal to the community to stand up and take stock or ostrich-like hide our faces in the sand, and let the sand dunes bury us deep into the deserts.

Without mincing any words he said, let’s not talk of quality, it’s quantity that’s the need of the hour. Two children per couple is not enough; four are needed to break even. This civilization is not dying due to disease, it’s because of no births!

Don’t we realize this is reason enough to take in all the progeny of either male or female Parsis in our fold? This would be a step in the right direction. With the vast funds available in our anjuman coffers, surely a big chunk could be directed towards helping Parsis to multiply, without any bias! This is war time, drastic measures for drastic results!

The editorial, "The men in white” (Parsiana, January 2004) states, "If the religion is to survive, as also the Parsis, the priests and their followers have to reform. Their beliefs, based on racism and caste, must have a new grounding in love, understanding and universal brotherhood.” The priests must take up this challenge and come to the aid of the community, leaving behind their old orthodoxy. Today we need their direction to bring about a renaissance in our beautiful religion.

Our tendency to live in our past glory is a trait that needs to be improved. We have a future to think of! Also this constant talk on purity, should be laid to rest. Statements like "gadhéra né ghoda sathé cross karo tau khaccharaj nikalsé (if you mate a horse with a donkey you are bound to get an inferior species” are nothing but cheap digs, best to be ignored!

My earnest prayer is that we can once again rise from the ashes, with some help from ourselves and the rest from Ahura Mazda.

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda