“The shame at Sanjan”

I am neither angry nor contemptuous, but I am nervous and heartbroken after hearing of the attack on Mikhail Chistyakov ("The shame at Sanjan,” Parsiana, March 7, 2010). I have tremendous love and extreme respect for both the sides and it is difficult for me to say a single word without offending one or the other party. Under the circumstances, I would like to quote similar incidents that occurred in the past and derive a conclusion.

In 1758, a French scholar, Octavio De Peron landed in Surat on May 1. He studied the Zend Pahlavi language under the guidance of Dastur Darab Kumana (Dadadaru), and translated the Vendidad in French language. On June 20, 1760 he put on a ‘Parsi dress (sudreh kusti),’ entered the sanctum sanctorum of one of the dar-e-mehers in the Aiwisruthrem gah, observed and took notes of Barsang, Ijeshnegah and all other pertinent details to print in his book which was published in France in 1772. His observations of a dar-e-meher was translated into English by Ervad Cowasjee Eduljee Kanga in 1876 and published by Commercial Press (pp 34-36).

In view of this historical fact, I wonder, if Peron who entered the atash no keblo was an ordained priest without which he would not have been permitted (even today we behdins are not allowed). Another thing I presume, people in those days were more tolerant and truly believed in spreading the knowledge of our religion. If people of those days did not like Dastur Kumana’s action they would have protested to the Bhagarsath Anjuman in Navsari because that was the ecclesiastical seat that was consulted for every detail.

There is another incident about a reformist. The community did not like his ideas and wanted to punish him. They approached the then governor of Bombay who advised them to punish the radical member in such a way so that he did not receive bodily harm. He suggested that beating up that member with shoes would suffice as a punishment.

Our community clearly has no constitution, resulting in people behaving as they like. Wouldn’t it be better for us to sit down and draft a constitution to avoid incidents like this in future?

ADI B. GANDHI

Los Angeles, California

adibg@aol.com