War of the worlds

The debate over whether Zoroastrianism is an all inclusive religion or the preserve of the Parsis/Iranis alone came to the forefront on the evening of June 11 at the Cama Baug. Around 500 members queued to register for attendance many waiting over half an hour. They had come to hear the leaders of the India chapter of the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) debate the issue of membership qualification, to endorse a resolution demanding that WZO-UK not admit as members any person professing the Zoroastrian faith and partake of a Chinese meal.

Explaining that both bodies were separate legal entities, WZO-India president and UK committee member Dadi Engineer noted that while the UK body permitted non-Parsi spouses and the children of interfaith marriages as members, India admitted "only those persons born in the Zoroastrian faith as members.” In fact WZO-India insists both parents be Parsi to qualify for membership. Ironically the orthodox World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) requires only the father to be a Parsi to gain membership.

"About two to three years ago the (WZO)UK approached me proposing a change in their constitution to permit any person professing the Zoroastrian faith to become a member of WZO-UK. They wanted WZO-India to agree to such an amendment. I said emphatically ‘No,’” Engineer informed the gathering.

He added that if the WZO-UK wanted to go ahead, "I will not come in your way.” He said the amendment would "only apply to the UK and those regions” that accept this change. "The amendments would not apply to WZO-India…my conscience is clear. There is no question of conversion. The WZO-UK is not encouraging or accepting conversion. It is just accepting (them) as members of WZO-UK.”

This position was accepted by both bodies, Engineer said. In February 2009 after a public function to confer a "Life time award” on Engineer for serving WZO for 25 years, Engineer and the India committee confirmed to WZO-UK president Darayus Motivala "that the amendments had been unanimously accepted by the WZO-India committee. Subsequently our committee members reconsidered their decision and declared they were now opposed to the changes.” Engineer stated he now found his position akin to that of a "suri ni vaché supari (a betelnut caught between two cutting blades).”

At the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meeting in September 2009 WZO-India vice president Nozer Meherji said he would stay on the WZO-UK committee and oppose the proposed amendment, unlike his co-committee member Kersi Limathwalla who resigned in protest. When Meherji’s turn came up for reelection he stated he was not permitted to stand for election. Similarly WZO-India joint honorary secretary Rusi Bhumgara and joint honorary treasurer Percy Mistry found their candidature for the UK board turned down "on certain technical grounds.”

Clockwise from left: Section of the audience, Dadi Engineer, Nozer Meherji, Kersi Limathwalla, Percy Mistry, Bahadur Mistry and Rusi Bhumgara Photos: Sarosh Daruwalla

Terming the WZO "a fractured body,” Engineer pleaded with his co-committee members not to "run in parallel lines.” He then read out a statement from WZO-UK which his Indian associates did not want read out at the meeting but Engineer noted he "was duty bound to do so.” The communiqué noted the two bodies "had the same membership rules and application form till 2002.” In 1993 WZO worldwide changed the membership clause to admit spouses and children. India agreed to this clause but in 2002 the India membership application form reverted to those born of Parsi/Irani parents.

"Since that time WZO-India has chosen to work as an autonomous and independent organization. It chose not to inform WZO-UK of its activities, nor to send its annual report or accounts and more importantly, not to send copies of the application forms of its new members as was the case prior to 1997. On the other hand, the committee of WZO-UK kept the WZO-India committee fully informed of its activities.

"The international board of WZO will, when it deems fit, make changes to its constitution subject to the approval of its membership…you have to decide whether you wish to (work) together for the good of the worldwide Zoroastrian community or you wish to generate discord and disharmony in the organization.”

Playing on the fear of converts, drug addicts and terrorists claiming themselves to be Zoroastrians and so justifying their acts of illegalities, Mistry spoke of a dream he had in which a person who called himself OBL (read Osama Bin Laden) said he was willing to pay UK £ 1,000 and even £ 2,000 to become a member of WZO "because nobody doubts Zoroastrians.” The travel agent claimed the proposed amendments to the WZO-UK constitution would "with one stroke of the pen wipe out the ethos of Zoroastrianism.”

"Wonderful dream,” endorsed Me-herji. "We do not believe in opening up the religion.” In reference to non-Parsis being more knowledgeable about Zoroastrianism than most Parsis, he referred to a Discovery Channel program on whales in which the producers probably knew more about whales than the whales themselves but "would you call them (the documentary makers) whales?” Restricting membership "to those confirmed Zoroastrians is how we have kept our ethos.” (Loud applause).

Claiming that India had 2,500 to 3,000 members while the UK body had only 500 to 600, Meherji noted India had only four representatives on the 30-member UK board. (Cries of "shame, shame.”) "India is not a puppet. The voting rights of Indian members are being taken away. Without (us) the WZO membership would be irrelevant. What wrong have I done to remain in the organization and state my point of view?”

Meherji explained the reason he wore a cap at the function was to preempt people seated next to him "mané topi nahi pèhravé (don’t make me a scapegoat).” Behind the scene games were being played, "That is why I decided to wear the cap.”

Bhumgara commented that of the one hour Engineer spoke, 55 minutes were devoted to the cause of WZO-UK and only five minutes for WZO-India.

Terming the evening meeting "historic,” Limathwalla noted that even between Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrians in the USA there were differences of opinion over food, language, etc. So also would there be between Russian, South American and even African Zoroastrians. "Can you understand the repercussions?” he asked. The concept of "one Zoroastrian community is utopian… idealism does not work.”

Terming the Parsis "the most secular community” that does charity to all and "celebrates all occasions of all other communities,” (applause) Limathwalla added, "but we don’t accept” converts. He said all religions teach the same thing and one "should have respect for (one’s) religion. If you don’t find it in your religion you won’t find it in any other religion (applause).”

As the meeting lasted for two-and-a-half hours, members made a beeline for the dinner tables when the organizers realized they had not taken a vote on the resolution. This was taken by a show of hands and passed "unanimously.’’ A sheet printed on both sides had been handed over to members as they registered which they had to sign and state whether they approved of the resolutions proposed or not. These required the WZO-UK to withdraw its proposed amendment, reinstate Meherji on the international board, endorse the candidature of Bhumgara and Mistry and hold a meeting of WZO-UK in Bombay.

In a phone conversation with Parsi-ana on June 7, Engineer noted that any resolution passed by WZO-India censoring or disagreeing with WZO-UK would have "zero legal standing.”

Motivala in a phone call to Parsiana deplored the actions of WZO-India terming them "disgraceful” and bemoaned the use of the Organisation’s funds to pay for the dinner.

The WZO Trust Funds and the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust are separate bodies unconnected to WZO-India or WZO-UK, notes Dinshaw Tamboly who is not on the board of either of the two warring bodies.