Conversion-conspiracy?

I have seen a copy of Parsi Pukar, a special issue on conversion-conspiracy. The opening statement reads: "The Parsis, right from the ancient Iran to present day India, were and are against conversion. Not only they did not convert any non-Parsi to a Parsi, but they were and are against conversion of any person from his religion of birth to any other. One’s religion, dharma, din, is a God-decided phenomenon. Any non-saintly person, howsoever intelligent and clever he may be, is not equipped to ‘choose’ one prophet for another. That is the great truth the Parsis believe in and they live by it.”

Fair enough. That is what Parsi Pukar believes.

May I inform them that the word ‘Parsi’ came into existence after our arrival in India. There were no Parsis in ancient Iran. So one must wonder from where they have got their facts.

If the ancient Iranians were against conversion then how did the Zoroastrian religion come into being? The religion of the day, when our Prophet Zarathush­tra was born was Mithraism and Zara­thushtra himself was a member of that religion. Not only did he preach a new religion, he converted people to it. It is a historical fact that the Zoroastrian religion was the first revealed religion that taught of one God, and we Parsis pride ourselves in saying that. If it was revealed to Zarathushtra, then obviously it did not exist earlier. And if it did not exist earlier, and does exist today, then obviously people converted to it. So, to say that in ancient Iran, people did not believe in conversion is a fallacy.

Jesus Christ was born a Jew, but he taught Christianity and converted people. Buddha was born a Hindu, but he gave the world Buddhism. Prophet Moham-med gave the world Islam. Every great and enlightened prophet has preached a religion far ahead of the times, and the people have converted to these great religions of their own free will.

I do believe that all religions, as they are taught now, do not compare with what was taught by the great prophets. How much has been distorted and how much has been added, that was not taught?

No religion in the world prohibits people from other religions entering their places of worship as rigidly as we do. We prohibit entry to even Zoroastrians who are not Parsi or Irani. We prohibit the entry of Parsi women who have married non-Parsis, even if they have not changed their religion. A non-Parsi woman who has married a Parsi, can have her children’s navjote done but a Parsi woman married to a non-Parsi can’t. Yet we pride ourselves as being an enlightened community that believes in the equality of the sexes!

Just think for a moment and ask yourself: If Zarathushtra were to come down to earth today, would he ban conversions and mixed marriages?

Each individual has been given the right to choose according to his or her own conscience and thought processes, to do what is right and fight what is wrong, irrespective of what the majority may think or believe. Indeed, this is one of the strong tenets of our religion.

Rohinton Rivetna’s proposal of forming a world body of Zoroastrians is, to my way of thinking, one of the most democratic and fair proposals that I have seen so far. All democratically led anjumans and Federations should join it and counter the show of bigotry and narrow-mindedness that we are witnessing in our community today.

There was a time when we Parsis were respected, honored and loved by the people of our country — the same people who welcomed us and gave us succor when we needed it most. They respected us for our integrity, honor and dignified behavior, apart from our other virtues. Today we have made a laughing stock of ourselves by the undignified behavior of some members of the community, just to gain power. Shouting, screaming, abusing! Disrupting meetings and not allowing people to speak! I am sure that every well-bred, dignified Parsi must be ashamed and saddened that these people have disgraced the fair name of the Parsis in this manner.

Everyone has a right to disagree, but there are ways of doing so.

I felt like hanging my head in shame, that, at the age of 83, I have to see my community come down to this sorry state.

Then I received the September 7 issue of Parsiana with an excellent editorial viewpoint ("The broken barrier”). The last line says: "How long can you fight an idea whose time has come?” I have begun to revive and when I turned a few pages and came across the cover story "The ARZ agenda,” my spirits soared and I no longer feel dejected or want to bow my head in shame.

The sensible way in which the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ) and Association of Inter-Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ) are conducting themselves; with dignity. No snide comments, no rude remarks, no defamation of character, respecting others’ points of views. A handful of young people who have the courage of their convictions have acted. They have had a jashan, where people of every faith, with heads covered respectfully, attended. My heart is bursting with pride and I want to send you all my blessings and best wishes for your success.

BHICOO MANEKSHAW

New Delhi