Religious refresher

The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute Ex-Students’ Association conducted its Se­ven­­th Residential Refresher Program­me for Ostas and Ervads at the Institute’s premises in Andheri from May 11-24, 2008. Since the number of trainees at this prestigious madressa has gone down over the past decade, it has resulted in the "influx of a crop of new mobeds who are unfortunately not fully trained in their craft,” writes Ervad Hormazdyar Gowadia in an e-mail to Parsiana. The Ex-Students’ Association has therefore stepped into the breach, taking up not only the challenge of honing the skills of such adhura (less qualified) mobeds but refreshing the education of full-time practising mobeds as well. In the past six years they have conducted seven such annual programs lasting a fortnight each to "impart religious and ceremonial education to the participants by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which they can stand on their own feet and guide the community on the right path,” Gowadia explains.

The write-up describes the founder of the madressa, Seth Merwanji Mancherji Cama, as an institution builder "who deeply stirred the minds and feelings of his own fellow Zoroastrians… Decades and generations after his death, this hero continues to influence and impact Zoroastrian lives the world over.” Cama lived in times when large numbers of Parsis had begun to migrate from the remote villages in Gujarat to Bombay. There was a desperate need for literate priests who were not only proficient in performing the highest liturgical ceremonies but were also educated enough to guide the community on the path laid down by Prophet Zarathushtra, and an institute where they could be trained.

Clockwise (from top left): Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza presents trophy to Yohan Dastoor; Farzaad Dastoor (l) and Arzan Zarolia with shield; jashan in progress

Cama approached the rich Parsis of his day and even the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) of which he was a trustee, but failed to raise any funds for his quest. He then employed his own personal funds to shape his dream in the form of The Mancherji Framji Cama Athornan Institute (popularly referred to as the Andheri Madressa). Today, whether in India or abroad wherever Zoroastrians have migrated, Cama Institute trained priests have set up and are maintaining agiaries, atash kadehs or prayer halls, the write-up states.

On May 11, 2008 Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza of Iranshah, Udvada inaugurated the course while Ervad Burjor Antia, solicitor and trustee of the BPP presided over the function. A jashan ceremony marked its commencement followed by a humbandagi. Ervad Nadir Modi gave his keynote address on the theme: "The Parsi priest at his highest and best.”

Zoroastrian scholars who tutored participants during the fortnight included Modi, Mirza, Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, Ervads (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, Khushru Panthaky, Asphandiar Dadachanji, Parvez Bajan, Keki Ravji as well as scholars Dr Homi Dhalla, Khojeste Mistree, Rustom Chothia, Dr Sam Doctor and Prof Meher Master-Moos, lists the write-up.

The concluding day of the program saw the Assembly Hall of the madressa packed with the who’s who among the community, many of whom had generously donated prizes, in cash or in kind, for the participants. Also present were internationally acclaimed Zoroastrian scholars and former students of the Institute. The proceedings concluded with the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti followed by a sumptuous dinner.