Liberality and charity

Dr Dadabhai Naoroji was contacted by the chairman of the General Committees of the Religious Congresses of the World’s Congress Auxiliary. He sought Naoroji’s advice as to the best means of getting the Zoroastrian religion represented in the World’s Congress, either by including some Zoroastrian scholar to visit the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 at Chicago personally as a Parsi delegate or, failing that, by procuring some paper on the Zoroastrian religion to be submitted to the Congress. Naoroji directed him to approach the Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha which requested Ervad Sheriarji Dadabhai Bharucha to prepare an appropriate paper to read at the Congress.

Bharucha authored a book entitled Zoroastrian Religion and Customs. K. R. Cama, in his preface to the first edition of the book, states, "The Sabha could not have entrusted the task to a better man than Sheriarji who, besides being an athornan by birth, has devoted all his life exclusively to the study of the languages and principles of his religion.” In his preface dated July 19, 1893, Cama, as president of the Rahnumai Mazdayas­nan Sabha, feels confident that the work "will be of permanent use not only to strangers to the religion but to the Zoroastrians themselves.”

Incidentally, Bharucha was the very first student of the internationally reputed savant K. R. Cama. As a linguist Bharucha had mastered Avesta, Zend, Pahlavi, Pazend, Old Persian, Sanskrit, Gujarati and English. A portrait of Bharucha has been printed in the second volume of the Congress report. It bears his name and the following extract: "The Parsis of India and Persia profess the ancient religion of Zoroaster, the renowned sage and prophet of ancient Persia. While other religions of the ancient world, such as those of ancient Egypt, Chaldea, Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome, have disappeared from the face of the earth, this one has survived many disasters and vicissitudes and flourishes still, if not in all its pristine vigor and glory, yet with many of its distinctive features, preserved practically intact.”

Bharucha writes in his book, "Liberality, charity (raiti) and kindness to man and the useful animals are enjoined. Charity is one of the fundamental precepts of Zoroastrianism. The Gathas and the Avesta abound with its praises. ‘May in this house charity triumph over miserliness (Yasna LX, 5).’ But the charity must be judicious and discriminating. Accordingly, it has been laid down that while charity towards deserving objects is meritorious, it is reprehensible to extend it to those who are unworthy of it. This affords another illustration of the beneficent and practical character of Zoroaster’s teaching. And it is notable that charity of a permanent character and directed to the general weal of the community such as schools and hospitals and water works is favored more highly than objects of private charity of casual and temporary utility. Promotion of education is enjoined. ‘Let him who wants knowledge be taught the holy word... Which is the highest deed of men? It is to give knowledge to those who are fit to receive knowledge and to give birth to every kind of holiness.’”

Capt HORMAZDIAR J. M. DESAI