The real danger

Any step towards development and progress is misperceived by some as detrimental. Are they actually mis­perceiving it or do they deliberately mis­represent and misreport facts to give vent to their personal agenda? They are afflicted with ‘you cannot do anything’ virus, which soon translates in a ‘we will not let you do anything’ disease. It is not only negative but also suicidal.

Please do not mislead the community with ridiculous claims and false bogeys. Wake-up to the real danger facing the community. Let us have healthy and constructive actions to save our religion in India and not have frivolous public meetings for personal scores and gains as was organized by Khojeste Mis-tree on October 21, 2004 to address the question "Is Parsi-ism under threat?”

Let us practice what we preach. Mistree is concerned about the Parsi language but gives lectures in Oxonian English, laments about our Parsi dress but was looking smart that day in a necktie and a jacket. We do agree we should protect our culture, language, dress, music and literature. But again asking the same question — "How would the co-religionists, fellow Zoroastrians from the other side of the globe take away our culture?”

With our declining population in India our properties and baugs are not in danger of encroachment from Tajik and Brazilian Zoroastrians but from local people having no connection with our religion, as has already happened with Parsi properties in various towns, cities and villages in India.

It is only with passage of time and after paying a high price we see the absurdity and futility of the objections raised by some from time to time. I would hereby like to quote two incidents which are recorded in history.

In 1802 the small pox epidemic started spreading in Surat and for more than 70 years commencing from 1804-05 our religious leaders prevented Parsis from accepting the small pox vaccine on threat of ex-communication from the community because according to them, puncturing the skin for accepting the vaccine would defile the ‘pure Parsi’ blood. Consequently many Parsis died during that period.

Secondly when the railway line was being laid in Bombay the Parsis then objected to it as they felt that the railway line at Charni Road was very near to the Banaji Atash Behram and that it was an insult to the holy fire as coal engines would pass by dropping burning coal on the tracks. Parsis submitted memorandum and letters to the authorities voicing their concern and opposition. But later on it didn’t matter when a majority of coal engine drivers in the railways were Parsis.

Some people talk of ‘Parsi blood’ or ‘boond pasbaani.’ Can I request them to please try to purchase pure Parsi blood from any blood bank? Hematologists unhesitatingly confirm that Parsi blood, its purity and superiority is only a fiction and not a fact.

The problem of declining population facing our community is grave. For the last 50 years the number of deaths have exceeded births. For several years now in Bombay there are 1,000 deaths and 300 births. A deficit of 700 per year. The decline will be faster in the years to come as about 33 percent of our population is in the above 65 years age group. If the trend continues the threat of extinction would be real. Ideally we would like all to marry within the community and raise at least four children. Is it practical? Can we enforce? The answer is no. Today the situation is that our community which has nearly 40 percent interfaith marriages has kept its doors open one-way, and that is the door to throw people out if they intermarry. If Parsis want to reverse the trend they must give up the death wish. It is important not to lose any intermarried Parsi and their progeny.

Zoroastrian religion is and cannot be the monopoly of the Parsi community. The term Parsi has no religious connotations. Was our Holy Prophet Zarathu-shtra a Zoroastrian or a Parsi? What did he preach, Zoroastrianism or Parsi-ism? The Zoroastrian religion was revealed by Ahura Mazda to Zarathushtra.

The creation of a Zoroastrian world body is a step in the right direction. Strengthening of bonds between the Zoroastrians of the world will only bring benefits to the Zoroastrian religion and community at large. After all, every Parsi/Zoroastrian, orthodox or liberal, has been wishing in his daily prayers, knowingly or unknowingly: "May the religion spread all over the seven regions of the world.”

VISPY WADIA

Trustee, Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism