Treat the ills

Every religion teaches good principles of life. Hence it is said that all religions are equal. If we encourage conversion it means that one religion is better or inferior to the other! This shows disrespect to one religion or the other. In many homes we find photographs and idols of different deities on the rationale that all gods are the same and all deserve respect. If all gods are the same then is there any need for this practice? In fact it shows that he/she has no full faith in one’s own religion. Such persons should think of leaving our clan and such a move should not make any difference to anybody as humanity is above caste, creed, religion and nationality.

Hence to encourage conversion in our religion merely to increase our numbers is like adding water to milk. We should live in harmony with our sister communities. We should follow the principle of universal brotherhood. But this does not necessitate interfaith marriages. Persons who make a hue and cry about our diminishing number are those who try to justify their actions and are seeking backdoor entry. One cannot have the pudding and eat it too! We have to preserve our religion as well as our race. It is better not to permit any child into the Zoroastrian faith if one of the parents is not a Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian. If we allow this practice it means that indirectly we are encouraging our youngsters to marry outside our community.

Dakhmenashini is no longer practicable and solar crematoria are poor substitutes as solar reflectors cannot be effective except in summer and they merely dehydrate the body. The only alternative is electric crematoria for quick and complete disposal of dead bodies. In solar concentrators heat is provided by the sun while in electric crematoria heat is supplied by electricity. The body does not come in contact with flames or fire.

I personally feel that the present chaos is created by a band of persons for their personal gain at the cost of the funds under their sway.

Then who can solve these problems? For an ailment whom do we consult? A doctor or a lawyer? If there is a earache, whom should one consult? An M.B.B.S. or an ENT specialist? Likewise our problems are to be sorted out by specialists, scholars and masters of the related subjects. They have the authority to speak on the subjects. They are the ones to put us on the right path. And not the editorial boards, nor the heads/trustees of various organizations, nor lay Parsis, nor by holding debates and discussions in the community.

H. S. SEPAI

Lucknow