Creating confrontations

I do not have a clear understanding of the affairs of the Parsi/Irani community in India — of their politics or their religious beliefs. Not even the orthodox seem to agree on anything among themselves. I see only confusion, because too many people want to be leaders, and that is not possible. What is also obvious is that the orthodox would like to control every aspect of your lives. And what sticks out like a sore thumb is the constant waste of mental and spiritual energy in creating confrontations and petty bickering.

Now that the orthodox are in control in the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), I thought that there would be less arguments and unruly behavior; but it seems this is too much to hope for. There is still no cohesion or clear direction as to where the trustees are going or taking the community.

There is a destructive force which is disrupting all that Parsis were once proud of, could rely on, and were at peace with; characteristics which non-Parsis respected and could rely on too.

It isn’t their conscience which drives the orthodox but their great desire to exhibit themselves as great scholars and men of holiness. But what they are really driven by is their ego, to control every aspect of people’s private and communal lives, including thoughts, words and actions. This happens not only in India; it must be so everywhere in the world. But this, of course, can never be. They don’t like it one bit when their opinions are not consulted as has happened at the last colloquium on the Gathas of Zarathushtra in New York City.

If their words and actions had ever been motivated by their conscience, they would have noticed the dire state of the Zoroastrian farmers in Gujarat and, instead of hoarding their funds, they would have tried to alleviate the farmers’ desperate plight and brought their families some comfort and hope for the future. The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) initiated the replacing of their mud huts, and gave the farmers seeds and animals to start their new life with.

Striving to fulfill all their obligations as a Zoroastrian charitable organization, the WZO has worked hard within the wider Zoroastrian community the world over, as well as manifested the true Zoroastrian spirit among non-Zoroastrians in times of great natural disasters, wherever these have occurred, as our forefathers did when they first settled in India. Whenever and wherever funds are required by any section our community — for medical treatment, or any other cultural or fruitful and humane purposes — the WZO is there to help.

Do the orthodox — priests and laity — need to be reminded that it was the founders of the WZO who first took steps to improve the living conditions of priests and raised their status so they may lead a more dignified life — especially when in old age they suffered ill health? Now the BPP is trying to debar two priests, Ervads Khushroo Madon and Framroze Mirza, from fulfilling their priestly duties because they are not in step with the orthodox. I call this blackmail. According to the orthodox, they want to keep the Parsi blood pure. Pure! Knowing something of ancient history, can any one community or nation in the world claim to be pure?

What is also lacking among the orthodox is simple common sense. Their sheer hubris and personal ego do not allow them to come together in a more constructive way. Each one wants to do things his way, unable to consider what is best for the community and our religion.

They simply can’t grasp the fundamental fact that all human beings are different: even within a family we are different, with different personalities. Our experiences are different because our powers of perception differ. Our thought processes are different — at the physical, mental, religious and spiritual levels. This is how human beings have been created. We are not products of some factory owned by Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal or Khojeste Mistree which turns out identical products. Not all of us are prepared to surrender to the orthodox way of thinking. Ahura Mazda has given us a "reflective mind” which is perhaps one of the most precious gifts to mankind, especially where our morals, ethics and spirituality are concerned.

I would not allow anyone to tamper with my mind. Life’s experiences have taught me many lessons, as have the Gathas. Men and women of wisdom and courage throughout history have confirmed the teachings of Zarathushtra — freedom of thought, words and worship which brings about harmony and a desire for peace and compassion. Of course I do consult true scholars, and I do so with great humility — but the choice of what I accept and what I cannot accept is mine. I certainly would not expect everyone to agree with me on every issue. We all have the right to choose our words and actions, prompted by our mind and conscience.

What the orthodox ignore completely, but gladly avail of, is the hard work and material contributions that the non-Parsi/Irani spouses have made to our community. This the latter have done in the spirit of love and devotion to a cause — that of compassion and justice which Zarathushtra tried to generate within all those who listened to him.

Looking back on our history there have been times when priests have caused great distress, even sorrow and suffering as well as confusion. It was the Magi who were the last to accept the teachings of Zarathushtra, the first to revert to some of their old practices, and at times to instigate harmful ones.

But there have been, and still are, priests whom we greatly respect and thank for their courage and steadfastness to the teachings of the Gathas and loyalty to Zarathushtra. They have guided our community through changing times for they recognize what the Prophet’s true mission was, and what should still be theirs and ours today and tomorrow.

PERIN DIVECHA

Essex, UK