Is this justified?

My father and mother are Parsi Zoroastrians. My navjote was performed by priests who were competent to do so as per the tenets of the Zoroastrian religion. On February 1, 1991 I got married to a non-Zoroastrian under The Special Marriage Act, 1954, which permits parties to the marriage to retain their own religion, provided they continue to practice it.

I have not undergone any conversion ceremony or ritual to another religion. I have continued to practice the Zoroastrian faith even after my marriage. I wear the sudreh and kusti as I have done since my navjote, and I pray daily to Ahura Mazda and Asho Zarathushtra.

I wish to visit and pray at dadgahs, agiaries and atash behrams. I wish to attend the paidust, uthamna and other after death ceremonies of my relatives and friends. I wish to attend religious ceremonies such as navjote, jashan, baj, nirangdin, vendidad, fareshta and muktad being performed either in a place of worship or at a private venue. I wish my name to be recited (farmayasni) in religious prayers for departed family members.

I am unable to fulfill these wishes as some of the orthodox anjuman members and trustees of a punchayet at the place of my birth consider me a non-Zoroastrian, ignoring the laws of the land. Can any anjuman member, trustee of a punchayet, head priest, panthaky of a fire temple or custodian of the Tower of Silence restrict my right as a Parsi Zoroastrian to enter such places?

At the Doongerwadi in Bombay, which is managed by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), an apex body of the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian community in India, there is a notice displayed outside the upper bungli office regarding use of Doongerwadi facilities for "consigning bodies of Parsi females married outside the Zoroastrian fold under the Special Marriage Act 1954 or any other legislature which permits parties to retain their religion prior to such marriage and who continue to follow Zoroastrian faith.”

As per this procedure the body is to be brought to Doongerwadi by a relative. It is then "consigned to the Tower of Silence after due verification of: Affidavit notarized on Rs 20 stamp paper by any close relative, viz daughter/son of her non-Parsi husband that the deceased was practicing the Zoroastrian religion till her demise.” After the paidust the body is "consigned to Modi Dakhma which is specifically earmarked for this purpose. Trustees will not be obliged to arrange with a priest to attend and performed (sic) funeral ceremonies.”

I have addressed this letter to the head priests of our community, Zoroastrian religious scholars, editors of the Parsi Press, to the BPP, World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis, World Zoroastrian Organisation and other related individuals and bodies, asking for their valued opinion.

GOOLRUKH M. GUPTA (née CONTRACTOR)