“Talibanization of the BPP”

The item titled "Talibanization of the BPP” (Events and Personalities, Parsiana, July 7, 2009) was thought provoking. Going hammer and tongs after Ervads Framroze Mirza and Khushroo Madon was not on any manifesto or mandate, but it certainly was on the cards after the Farzin Batliwalla incident, details of which the Parsi censor board will not publish.

Innocent Batliwalla was given Hindu rites after her death and buried in a cemetery. Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta and the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) shed crocodile tears about why she was not given a Parsi funeral. Bomi Sachinwalla, fellow traveler of the WAPIZ was roped in as His Master’s Voice for the task of character assassination of the Wadia brothers of the Association for the Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ), who gave a fitting reply to WAPIZ not just in words but in deeds and made them and Mehta look small and petty. The Wadias even managed to get donations from Parsis with which to perform further religious ceremonies for Batliwalla during the year. This was the last straw as Mehta and WAPIZ had no face left. Something had to be done to show the supremacy of the fascist, fanatic, diehard orthodox and to set an example to other priests. Having eaten humble pie, they made Mirza and Madon scapegoats with "pét par laat (depriving them of livelihood).” That is all they were capable of doing, and it shows up the trustees in their true colors.

The trustees have not only caused a schism but have divided the community right down the middle. Armaity Tirandaz’s slogan "Kom ni unity with Armaity” was just a gimmick. She has stepped into the shoes of her late husband in right earnest, and caused a divide which cannot be bridged.

The behavior of the trustees can be described thus: "Doobtoo maanas feen né vargé (a drowning man will clutch at straws),” "Ghanu karé té thoraa né kajé (making a mountain out of a mole hill),” "Khaali chano té vaagé ghano (empty vessels make the most noise).”

The truth of the matter is that the Zoroastrian religion enjoins conversion which is confirmed by not one but two court judgments apart from the research by eminent scholars. Many Parsis are married outside the community, and their numbers are increasing. They want their children to follow and profess the Zoroastrian religion, and no vada/chhotta/khotta (big, small, fake) dastur, BPP or WAPIZ can prevent or stop that.

There are many Parsis who are aware of the conditions inside the dakhmas where bodies rot, are eaten by mice or are nibbled at by crows and kites. These birds fly away with bits and pieces of flesh and do not eat like vultures who consume the bodies on the spot. Hence the remains of the dead are scattered outside the dakhmas. Solar reflectors as a system are a half-baked reform. Bodies are heated, the flesh dried and then taken out in pieces to be buried. Hence it is part burial and part cremation. Many, if not all, Parsis are opposed to this undignified system of disposal and they will opt for cremation or burial and have religious ceremonies/rites performed by Zoroastrian priests.

The immature, unwarranted, and uncalled for action of the BPP reminds me of an old Parsi song which gives an insight into the real orthodox philosophy and those interested may ponder over it.

Khaali haatho laee aayaa rubabe,/akher javaanoo khalij haathé/Bhalaai kari lo souvni sangathé,/aawé tau aawé bhalaai sangathé (We have come empty handed and so will be depart; only the rewards of good deeds can remain with us).

Laayaa soo ahiyaa, lainé soo jaso, (repeat)/vavyoo téhvoo tahméj khaaso (What you sow, so shall you reap.)

Khali haatho...

Koiné radaavi tumna hurkhasho (repeat)/Khudrat joové chhè souvno tamaasho (Do not laugh at others’ expense for God is witness to life’s drama).

Khali haatho…

BEHRAM AGA

behram_r_aga@yahoo.co.in

It is unfortunate that it is often mentioned that I conduct conversions. I am a strong believer in one birth, one religion. If anyone has married a person belonging to another faith, which they have every right to do, I believe that such couples can live together happily with each one professing his/her own faith and without getting converted to the other’s faith.

I pray for the deceased who have chosen to be cremated and perform interfaith weddings and navjotes of Zoroastrians of both genders, age no bar. I will continue to do this despite any fatwas from interested parties who feel that they will succeed in stopping me. This will never happen as I will continue to provide these services till my last breath.

I have committed myself to doing this since the last 10 years despite various troubles which I have gone through, such as termination of my clerical service at the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), ostracism from agiaries and atash behrams and now the ban from praying at Doongerwadi and the two agiaries run by the BPP. Nor am I worried about people who call themselves pure Parsis and refer to me as "renegade.” I am least bothered.

Ervad FRAMROZE S. MIRZA