“Roots and rigors”

A number of articles are being written by Zoroastrians about the need for a change in Zoroastrianism. If we change Zoroastrianism, will it remain Zoroastrianism?

Around 20 years back, our priests and elders were crying themselves hoarse that intermarriage will bring us down as a community and that we should pay attention to studies pertaining to Zoroastrian history and mythology and the whys of our religion. Today their words have been proved right as the demand for changes in Zoroastrianism come from those who want to start conversions to solve the problems of those who are affected by our non-acceptance of alien spouses because of intermarriage.

If we make changes to accommodate such people, will the next generation know Zoroastrianism as it was known to me, my father and grandfather? For at least 1,000 years Zoroastrians in India rose to become the most educated and respected community even though Zoroastrianism didn’t change for the sake of personal preferences. Chaos has crept in only in the last 10 years when, to change with the times, we have given more importance to education and jobs while sidelining Zoroastrianism from our daily lives.

In "Roots and rigors” (Parsiana, March 21, 2007) you have given an account of Dr Dastur JamaspAsa and his indepth knowledge of Zoroastrian Iranian studies. We have amongst us people who are respected and heeded by universities like the Cambridge, Colorado and Mainz amongst others. Prof Mary Boyce’s research papers, Dr Kotwal’s and Dr JamaspAsa’s knowedge arise from their being associated with Indo Iranian studies for over three decades. Their knowledge has been acclaimed by international universities collaborating with them on historical events. Then why do we as a community ridicule their knowledge of Zoroastrianism? History repeats itself especially for those who do not study it. After giving historical and scriptural knowledge on why there should be no conversion and how the Zoroastrians of Europe and China disappeared due to amalgamation, we still have Zoroastrians who want to tread the same path. Nouveau Zoroastrian philosophies are creeping in from people who, though they may be doctors of medicine and law, are not so conversant with Iranian studies. Indeed, educated people who mock professors who have credentials that are respected worldwide in their special field cannot be expected to perform better.

RUSTOM JAMASJI