“Dakhma despair”

The Pope has appointed a cardinal to oversee the spread of Christianity as reported in the Press. Angered by this certain sections of the Hindu community are considering revolt. Quaran TV spreads and explains the messsage of Islam. Only Zoroastrians are hell bent on destroying their ancient customs (see "Dakhma despair,” Parsiana, May 21, 2006 regarding Dhun Baria’s revolt against dakhmenashini). While those who want to stop dakhmenashini have a chance of choosing between dakhmena­shini and other modes of disposal, they want to take away the freedom to choose from other Zoroastrians keen to follow the Mazdayasni way forever. The freedom of choice mentioned in the Gathas is the freedom of choice to follow Zoroastrianism or not. This freedom should not be manipulated to change Zoroastrianism!

A lot could have been done to maintain the dakhmenashini system and not let it fall to such a level. We still can give modern technology a chance. Without experimenting one can’t learn and without learning something, we can’t leave much for coming generations. If during the invasion Zoroastrians felt the way some Zoroastrians feel now, we all would be celebrating Ramzaan with a beard or dressed in a burkha instead of feasting on Navroz in our baugs. And there would be no baugs for us to feel safe when there is trouble outside.

Another fascinating thing one notices reading the Parsiana is the Milestones column. Names of most newborns of intermarried Zoroastrians (males and females) reflect the foreign spouse’s religion. Even intramarried Zoroastrians prefer to neglect names that reflect Zoroastrian or Persian culture and faith. Is it because we are underconfident of ourselves in the global world that we feel compelled to please the other religions and western world to accept us or is it because the new generation of ­Zoroastrians don’t feel proud of their Mazdayasni and Zoroastrian/Persian history?

A frequently cited excuse is that one has to be modern and look modern. Does that mean Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews who maintain their culture in all corners of the world want to feel backward?

Suggestions poured in when my kid was born 17 months back to give a modern name like Danielle, Yohanne, Anne, Danny, Mary, etc. But though they sounded modern, they are around 2,000 years old so the most modern name one could give would be ‘.com’ or ‘IT.’ Short and sweet and globally understood. But having worked with people from all over the world and my ‘religion-hugging’ nature, my pride in being a Mazdayasni resulted in my naming my child after a Zoroastrian water deity, still short and sweet but also one that would in her lifetime give her a sense of belonging!

Names don’t reflect modernity, nor wiseness nor caliber of a person, but they definitely segregate us, remind us of our stock and give us a sense of who we are and what roads our forefathers traveled to get us here!

RUSTOM JAMASJI