“PIN cards for Parsis”

I fully agree with Kayomarz Patel ("PIN cards for Parsis,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, April 21, 2006) that our fire temples and places of worship are meant for Parsi/Irani Zarathushtis. It is also very true that some of our Parsi/Irani friends have unfortunately helped non-Parsis to enter our places of worship.

The idea of PIN cards is rather hypothetical and not practical because of several limitations. Take the case of the Dadysett Agiary in Fort having more than one panthaky and well patronized by office goers. It is one of the very few agiaries which is kept open during lunchtime for the convenience of office goers. My father has been frequenting this agiary for years. On the day Rajiv Gandhi was shot my father was praying there in the evening when a non-Parsi walked in. My father tried to stop him but being old, was unable to stop the stranger physically. So he started shouting and with the noise created by my father the stranger walked out. My father pointed out the matter to the priest on duty who coolly replied, "What can I do? Go tell the trustees to employ a security guard.” So-called Parsis too have stolen cash from the charity box and boi money.

There are a few agiaries in which the condition of the priests is so pathetic that at times they have to survive on food and help given by the neighboring non-Parsis. In some of our places of worship there is only one priest in his 70s or 80s. The place of worship is swept and swabbed by a non-Parsi and the kebla is washed and cleaned by the old priest.

As my profession involves extensive travel, I always make it a point to go out of my way to visit the agiary or dadgah in that town. I also make it a point to buy my offerings like sandalwood, kathi, from the agiary or in and around the town to give some help and encouragement in a small way.

What use is the idea of PIN card, when you cannot give a healthy salary to the dear priest or the trust has no money to employ a Parsi to clean the agiary? Some of our priests have no geyser for a hot water bath nor a refrigerator and no holiday throughout except when he is hospitalized. Our priest has to tend the sacred fire day in an day out. Have you ever thought of his medical health? The smoke he inhales, the effect on his eyes, the meager salary earned in areas other than metro cities?

NAUZER PESIKAKA