“Every one wants blessings”

Ervad Khushroo Madan was in Delhi doing the navjote of the child of a Parsi mother within days of the ARZ jashan. When Parsiana got through to him on his return we learnt that he is routinely summoned by Zarathushtis in Hydera-bad, Goa, Poona, Hong Kong, Durban and Doha Katar. And is already booked for five weddings and four navjotes later this year.

Madan estimates 15 to 16 such events taking place annually in Bombay alone. "Everyone wants religious blessings for their children, even atheists,” he notes, adding, "There is nothing wrong in praying for non-Parsis. I pray the tandarosti for non-Parsis who want it.”

Madan says he has been praying for the souls of the cremated ever since he became a navar in 1967, even when he was working in Godrej. He says he gave up his job in 1995 as it was not always possible to obtain leave to cater to the community’s needs. Though he says he is for dakhmenashini, the shortage of vultures has undermined the system. "Nor does it matter once the soul leaves the body. I am not committing a sin,” he maintains, adding, "The four-day prayers are very important. They give the soul guidance. The BPP even provides the ceremonies free of charge for the poor.”

Madan says his mother Putla died when he was only two years old, so it was his late father Fali who brought up the family of two sons and two daughters. Today all the siblings profess the same philosophy: that there should be no discrimination between genders, between those who are consigned to the dakhmas and those who are cremated. Khushroo, a science graduate, and his two sons Fali and Jimmy who have also been inducted into mobedi along with their school and college studies, pursue the faith.

"Dastur JamaspAsa’s fatwa does not apply to Doongerwadi,” notes the affable Madan, adding that he continues to be called for normal ceremonies by some panthakies. But he is no less critical of the double standards that prevail in the community and the profession. "I can expose some of the goings-on with proof but I don’t want to add to the controversies... Some time in future if they overstep their bounds we will send a letter through an advocate…”